Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Al-Thar by Sean Dow

Al-TharBook Description:
America's hero, Dr. Brent Holcomb, returns in this thrilling sequel to A Leafy Green World.
Flushed from the witness protection plan after a brutal assault, Brent returns to find his country under attack by the same terrorists he had battled in Portland, Oregon, terrorists whose only goal more pressing than the destruction of the United States was to give Dr. Holcomb, the mostsought after man in the Arabic world, a painful and humiliating public death. Emboldened by a deep need for revenge, and accompanied by a cast of friends reaching high into the U.S. government, Brent devises a daring and unconventional plan to turn the tables and bring the terrorists down once more, this time, for good.
Brent's action packed hunt for revenge carries him across the world, from the peacful islands of the Phillipines, to Washington, and from America's heartland to the most remote valleys of Pakistan where he works to gain the trust of the same terrorist council he had thwarted in Portland, Oregon, only the year before. Join Dr. Holcomb as he travels back to the United States with a cargo so deadly that a misstep could lead to the death of thousands; watch as he and his memorable cast of friends orchestrate the greatest con the world has ever witnessed, pitting a handful of men against the resources of their own goverment and the foreign enemies who had sworn an oath to bring him to his death.
Al-thar, (revenge) is a non-stop thrill ride. Its explosive ending will leave readers wishing for more.

My Thoughts:
Yeah, Brent is back!  After the last book (A Leafy Green World), Brent is in witness protection.  That doesn't last long though and he is back in action.  The terrorists that he has thwarted before want his head on a stake and literally!  The book starts out with a bang and doesn't stop.  You bounce around the world keeping up with him and all the time rooting for him to win.I still like Brent.  He is a good guy who is determined to do what he has to for these guys to go down.  Plenty of action, thrills, mystery, twists and turns, I had trouble putting this book down because I just had to know what happened next.  I had read the first book in the series so Brent was like and old friend.  That being said, I think you could read this one without necessarily reading A Leafy Green World and enjoy it.4/5 for me.  I do enjoy this author's writing style! Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via PUYB).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Kiss Me Maybe by Heather Burch

Kiss Me Maybe (Princess Cruises Presents: Kindle Love Stories)Book Description:
She writes a beauty blog. He’s heir to a beauty empire. Love never looked so good.
Megan Cooper believes fate is about to strike—and zap her sleepy small-town life with a jolt of big-time romance. There’s just one thing: she hasn’t found him yet. No matter. The feisty redhead is on a mission to meet her match. When a charming, mysterious, handsome stranger named Alexander offers to help with her quest, she must decide if she believes in fate…or what lies in her heart.
Alexander Andrews, heir to a beauty empire, is all about business. Sure it’s his family’s company, but after all these years he can do a deal in his sleep. When his assistant sends him on Emerald Princess for some much-needed relaxation, he doesn’t think it’ll do him any good. But one look at Megan and he feels his legendary control slipping from his grasp. His heart is in her hands…but is he ready to risk it all?

My Thoughts:
This was just an all around sweet romance.  Megan believes her grandmother is right and the cruise she is going on is going to be where she finds true love.  Alexander is being forced into a vacation by his assistant.  This puts the couple together for the perfect romance....except not.  The busy billionaire is struck by Megan's beauty but she is on a mission.
The author does a great job pulling you into this story.  I wasn't sure I was going to like the ending but I really did.  The story line is sweet and there isn't a whole lot of twist to it but there is some.  It is a short read so you should absolutely grab a copy and read just to put a smile on your face!
It was a 5/5 for me.  Was nice to have a simple, sweet romance story to read.

To Love a Wolf by Paige Tyler

Book Description

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Evergreen by Susan May Warren

Evergreen (Christiansen Family, #3.5)Book Description:
An empty nest has Ingrid Christiansen dreading the upcoming holidays, but her husband, John, couldn't be more excited about this new season of life. He even has a surprise trip abroad planned. He's sure she'll love it. What's more romantic than Christmas in Paris?Before he can stop her, however, Ingrid agrees to spearhead a major church project. Then their faithful dog, Butterscotch, needs emergency surgery, draining their savings. And then--because disasters strike in threes--an unexpected guest arrives, dredging up old hurts.As a beautiful blanket of snow transforms the north woods into a winter wonderland, a deep chill settles over John and Ingrid's marriage. With the holidays fast approaching, their only hope of keeping their love evergreen depends on turning the page on the past and embracing a new chapter of their future.

My Thoughts:
This is a good novella.  I love Susan May Warren's books and couldn't wait to read this one.  John and Ingrid are 'empty nesters' now and John is ready to enjoy it.  This book shows exactly why couples go their separate ways after their children leave.  If you don't focus on being a couple throughout the 'kid' years then there is always going to be something missing when they leave.
I like how the author makes you both love and want to smack the characters.  Each had their faults and had their good attributes but I rooted for them throughout.  I wanted their marriage to work no matter what came at them because despite everything, they do love each other.  They just need to realize what each of them need and work together.  The author tackled a touchy subject and did a great job.
5/5 for me.  I love it. Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via bookfun magazine).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Orphan Flowers Book Promo!!

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TITLE: Orphan Flowers
SERIES: Conquering Series (Book 1)
GENRE: Contemporary Mystery / Suspense
AUTHOR: J.C. Rochford
RELEASES: July 23rd, 2016
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synopsis
Lily-May, wife of NYPD Detective Murray and mother to beautiful Callie, tragically goes missing, with her daughter witnessing the ordeal, but unable to save her mother from the captor's grip. Will Callie be able to live with herself? A mystery as to where she is or how she got there and to stay alive, Lily begins a new life pretending to be someone else. Will she ever be found, or will her captor carry out the unthinkable when he learns her true identity? Back home, Lily's husband and daughter have been left to pick up the pieces. While both suffer immeasurable pain and emptiness, Callie believes she has seen her mother on a number of occasions but has been too scared to tell her dad who, unbeknownst to her, has witnessed his own sightings of this same woman. Has Lily returned, or is it her ghost back to haunt her daughter and husband?
about the author
Chelsea_Author
J.C. Rochford was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Besides being half Canadian, she is also half British with many family members still residing in England. J.C. began her writing journey in her early teens writing poetry and song lyrics. Currently, you may find J.C. Rochford titles under the young adult and contemporary fiction genres. 'Orphan Flowers' is J.C. Rochford’s debut novel, and was written over the course of two years before setting it to release to the world on July 23, 2016. J.C. Rochford holds additional interests in photography, graphic design, and jewellery design. She also enjoys the outdoors and visiting rural Ontario with her family during the summer.
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Thursday, July 21, 2016

The Dragon of the Month Club by Iain Reading

Book Description:
The Dragon Of The Month Club is the exciting first installment in a new book series that tells the story of Ayana Fall and Tyler Travers, two best friends who stumble across an extraordinarily magical book and soon find themselves enrolled as members of a very special and exclusive club - The Dragon of the Month Club.
On the thirteenth of every month a new dragon conjuring spell is revealed and the two friends attempt to summon the latest Dragon of the Month. The varieties are almost endless: Air Dragons, Paper Dragons, Fog Dragons, Waterfall Dragons, Rock Dragons, Tree Dragons - not to mention special bonus dragons for all the major holidays, including a particularly prickly Holly Dragon for Christmas.
But one day when a conjuring spell somehow goes wrong Ayana and Tyler find themselves unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical world of adventure based on the various books scattered all across Tyler's messy bedroom. Traveling from one book-inspired world to the next with nothing to rely on but their wits and a cast of strange and exotic dragons at their disposal they must try to somehow find their way home again.
Drawing inspiration from some of literature's most memorable stories - from 19th century German folktales to the streets of Sherlock Holmes's London - the adventures of Ayana and Tyler bring these classic stories to life in delightfully strange and unexpected ways. Filled with fascinating detail and non-stop action these books will spark the imaginations of readers of all ages to inspire a life-long love of reading and seeking out books that are just a little bit off the beaten track.
 

My Thoughts:
This was a good start to a promising series.  I liked Ayana and Tyler.  They become friends in the library and in the back, dusty shelves find their treasure.  A book that tells them how to summon dragons.  There are different kinds of dragons and the summoning has to be done just right.  When they make a mistake, they wind up in a different world and have to use their wits to get home.  
I was expecting this to be a typical children's book but it was more.  The two kids the book is about are well written and their friendship grows mainly because of the book.  While the book has dragons, it's main focus is Ayana and Tyler.  I like how there are several stories all twisted up into this one story.  There were characters that I never expected to meet in this book there and written into it so well!  
It was a 4/5 for me.  I like the author's writing style and am looking forward to more.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Truth and Consequences by Lenora Worth

Book Description

A Leafy Green World by Sean Dow

A Leafy Green WorldBook Description:
Dr. Brent Holcomb had no idea how much a chance encounter with a friendly dog and an overweight barber would change his life. He wasn't looking for adventure when he move to Portland, and he certainly wasn't looking for adventure that evening when he stumbled into Paddy O'Bryan's after a particularly trying day at the hospital, but that's what he found. Before long, Holcomb found himself perfectly positioned to infiltrate the Northwest's loose affiliation of eco-terrorists as they planned a major operation with the intent of bringing the U.S. economy to its knees. Throw in a deeply hidden international terror cell with plans of its own, and his life was about to get a whole lot more interesting! 

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this book.  Realistically, when I started reading, I thought this book was going to go somewhere completely different than where it did.  After the horrible loss of his family, Dr. Holcomb (Brent), can't hold down an job and is just unhappy.  I felt so sorry for him and the author did a great job at making him seem like a real person.  Being completely down, it made me just want to root for him to find happiness again.
After moving to Portland, and through a series of events, Brent finds himself in a situation that isn't exactly what it seems.  The action in this book is good.  There was a bit of twisted, sarcastic humor that I enjoyed.  This book had a bit of everything, mystery, suspense, a touch of romance, and a main character that I flat out just liked.  
It was a 4/5 for me and I will absolutely be reading more from this author.
Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book (via PUYB).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Heroes of the Bible Treasury by David Miles

Book Description

The Adventure Bible Bible Story Collection is a six book treasury of level 2 Adventure Bible I Can Read titles designed for newly independent readers and based on the Adventure Bible—the #1 Bible for kids!
Read all about people in Bible times and their adventures in these well-known Bible stories.
This 6-book bind-up includes: • Elijah and the Power of God ISBN: 9780310750819 • A King, A Statue and a Fiery Furnace ISBN: 9780310750932 • Miracles of Jesus ISBN: 9780310732426 • A Father’s Love ISBN: 9780310732402 • The Good Samaritan ISBN: 9780310746621 • Paul Deliver’s God’s Message ISBN: 9780310750765
My Thoughts:
This is a really good collection of Bible stories for the kiddos to read.  My little boy that just finished 2nd grade read through them with no problem and really enjoyed them.  There are bright and colorful pictures that all 3 of my kids enjoyed.  The younger two completely enjoyed being read to by their big brother.
The stories are well told and follow the Bible well.  These stories are really good about heroes from the Bible, the list is a good collection of stories that really teaches your child about God.  The pictures go along with the stories wonderfully and young children will really enjoy it.  I think it is a good addition to any library for the kiddos.  
A 4/5 for me.  It will stay on our reading shelf for the kiddos to reread and learn from.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book (via BookLook).  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Unwanted by Jennifer Estep

Book Description

Friday, July 15, 2016

Kaitlin's Tale by Christine Amsden

Book Description:
Kaitlin Mayer is on the run from the father of her baby – a vampire who wants her to join him in deadly eternity. Terrified for her young son, she seeks sanctuary with the Hunters Guild. Yet they have their own plans for her son, and her hopes of safety are soon shattered.
When she runs into Matthew Blair, an old nemesis with an agenda of his own, she dares to hope for a new escape. But Matthew is a telepath, and Kaitlin's past is full of dark secrets she never intended to reveal.


*Companion to the Cassie Scot Series

My Thoughts:
I was really excited about this spin off of the Cassie Scot Series and it was good!  It is a spin off so it stands alone.  That being said, you should totally read the Cassie Scot Series because you will enjoy it too and catch the little references throughout this book.  Since I have read the series, I was hoping this book would come out and give us more of Kaitlin and her baby.  There were just so many ways the author could go and she did great!
Kaitlin is willing to do anything to keep her baby safe.  His vampire father is absolutely not a safe option so first chance she gets, she runs.  She isn't sure she has made the right choice, but the Hunters Guild is where she ran.  The compound isn't what she was expecting and then she runs into Matthew.  There is a past there but she is willing to let him help if it will save her baby.  Matthew has his own agenda and both absolutely have secrets.
Great read, a 5/5 for me.  This one left it open for more and I cannot wait for the author to write more.  

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Defiance by RS Broadhead

Book Description:

Book 1 in The Reaper Series

I. Am. Death.

His only job? To watch.

Watch the family Fate branded for death be butchered by a random drunk.

Cadeus Reaper was created by Grim for reaping souls. So why can’t he do the one thing he was made for?

Cadeus always knew he was different from other Reapers. Still – he struggled to fit in, to follow orders, and earn his way to the top spot of Demoral as he was intended for, that is until he reaps a soul for the first time.

He defied Death’s law by attempting to stop a human from being executed.

He failed.

Or so he thought.
His crime would not go unpunished or unnoticed.
Trapped. In a cell. For over twenty years as mental and physical abuse haunted him--only to discover that the girl he tried to save is very much alive--but will soon be dead.

With no other choice, Cadeus has to do the impossible. Escape an inescapable prison. With the help of a newfound friend, he manages to reach freedom, only to find the world he once knew is gone. Grim has disappeared, leaving utter chaos. Fate, along with other Reapers, have taken over his home, the realm of Nekroun Earth.


Along with Demons and Angels, Fate has demanded the girl that Cadeus saved be found. Can Cadeus get to her first? Or will she end up in the hands of a fate she’s been running from?

My Thoughts:
I was excited about this book because I've enjoyed other books by Broadhead.  It didn't disappoint.  I really liked Cade.  He is a strong (both mentally and physically) reaper.  I completely disliked Fate from the beginning.  She was just twisted and had a 'bad' feeling about her.  Cade didn't follow the rules and was ready to accept the consequences, at least he thought so.  He wasn't prepared for what Grim sentenced him to, nor what all that entailed.
I completely disliked all the Demorals and even more so after Grim disappears.  Cade's befriending of of Ryker was unusual but then it wasn't.  Ryker was the only link to the outside world he had and the only one who would talk to him while he was in prison.  I loved that Cade was determined, no matter what rules he had to break, to save this little girl.  After thinking for all the years in prison that he had failed and being told he had succeeded, it had to be an elating and then terrifying feeling to realize she is once again in danger.  The little clues dropped through the book that he is meant for more keep you pushing to read more.
5/5 for me and I will absolutely be reading the next in this series!

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Thursday, July 14, 2016

Shadows of an Empress book blast


About the Book:

Title: Shadows of an Empress
Author: Carole Waterhouse
Publisher: Anaphora Literary Press
Pages: 310
Genre: Literary Fiction
After the death of her mother, Sylvia is sent to live with her grandmother on an isolated piece of farmland, where she and a nymph-like companion run through the woods creating an imaginary world where her mother is still alive. When Sylvia marries Dan, everyone sees her life moving from tragic to fairy tale.  But when a recurring dream about a city she can’t identify leaves Sylvia feeling especially unsettled, she goes into her living room on a sleepless night and finds the Empress Elisabeth of Austria waiting for her. 

Suspecting their lives are somehow linked, the empress helps Sylvia sort through her past and question her present.  She and Sissi, Elisabeth’s younger version, embark on a whirlwind tour of places related to the empress’s past where the Archduchess Sophie tries to arrange a courtship between Sylvia and Franz Joseph, a heart-broken Heinrich Heine laments the empress’s tendency to credit him as the inspiration for her awful poetry, and Sigmund Freud offers commentary on their journey.   As they travel, Sylvia becomes more aware of the empress’s faults. As their paths begin to separate, Sylvia learns from Elisabeth’s mistakes and comes to realize that the answers she has been searching for need to come from within. In a mock ceremony in Vienna, Sylvia is crowned the empress of herself and returns home to start a new life with Dan. She understands then that the city she has been haunted by all this time is the life the two of them built, the one they are finally ready to enter together. 
 
Shadows of an Empress is available at Amazon.
Book Excerpt:
Chapter 1

2002

Sylvia turned up the radios in all three rooms—the kitchen, the bedroom, the workshop—the different locations making it sound as though there were three people talking, one an echo of the other.  Still, it was his voice surrounding her completely, a sound that always gave her comfort.  Dan, Dan, the music man.  Her husband never realized the most intimate words he ever spoke to her had nothing to do with love.
The radios were turned up so high, she wondered how far his voice actually carried, for miles maybe, certainly as far as Zoe’s house.  She came down once, laughing, turning them off, one after the other, diminishing the last to a faint whisper.  “Why do you make him shout so?” 
When Sylvia told her the reason, that she loved surrounding herself with the sound of his voice, wanted not to just listen but to be able to feel it in her bones, Zoe stopped and looked at her.  “Don’t tell me after all these years you’re still in love.” 
Sylvia could hear the envy in her voice.  She suspected that Zoe, too, listened to Dan’s voice, knew what it was like to have it pulsate through her veins.
 Dan, Dan the Music Man. 
They had laughed at the name he was given, the repetition meant to sound lyrical, like one of the tunes circling in his head.  Neither of them had ever expected that a radio show about music boxes would become nationally syndicated, even in a niche area like NPR.  He was a celebrity in some circles, even if most people had no idea who he was.  Zoe called him the most famous man no one had ever heard of, and, given the way Dan laughed when she said it, Sylvia wished it had been her comment instead.
“Music boxes can change lives.  There’s no doubt.  I’ve witnessed it many times.”
It was the voice she listened to more than the words, although she sometimes felt his comments were a secret code meant only for her.  At the moment he was describing one of their own antiques, a real treasure they had acquired just a few weeks ago, the one Dan called the music box of his dreams. 
It was actually a large automaton with rows of horses that would race across the front as the music played, the device designed so that the winning horse was randomly selected. She knew why he prized it, that it wasn’t just the box itself, as exquisite as it was, but the way it represented their lives together, fitting in perfectly with the Victorian farmhouse, the real horses she loved so, a true home where husband and friend were never far away. 

About the Author
 

A professor of creative writing at California University of Pennsylvania, Carole Waterhouse has an MFA in fiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh and a Ph.D. in 20th Century Literature from Ohio University.  She’s the author of three novels, Shadows of an Empress, The Tapestry Baby, and Without Wings, as well as a short story collection, The Paradise Ranch.  Her short stories have appeared in an anthology, Horse Crazy: Horses and the Women who Love Them, and numerous literary magazines, including The Massachusetts Review, The Artful Dodge, The Ball State University Forum, Crack the Spine, Blue Lake Review, Ceilidh, Eureka Literary Magazine, Crossconnect, Spout, The Styles, Turnrow, Half Tones to Jubilee, Potpourri, The Baybury Review, Arnazella, Parting Gifts, Pointed Circle, Seems, The Rockhurst Review, Oracle,  and The Griffin.  She has reviewed books for The Pittsburgh Post Gazette, The Pittsburgh Press and The New York Times Book Review.

For More Information

Giveaway

Carole Waterhouse is giving away an autographed copy of THE TAPESTRY BABY!

Terms & Conditions:
  • By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
  • One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one autographed copy of The Tapestry Baby by Carole Waterhouse
  • This giveaway begins July 5 and ends on July 29.
  • Winners will be contacted via email on July 30.
  • Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com
 

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Not a Fairy Tale Book Blitz

Title: Not a Fairy Tale
Author: Romy Sommer
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: HarperImpulse
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR
Blurb:
And the award goes to…
Not Nina Alexander that’s for sure.
With her best gracious loser face firmly in place, Hollywood’s hottest starlet is hoping to end her evening of disappointment with a graceful exit stage left. Only an unexpected proposal and an awkward wardrobe malfunction mean that this is certainly going to be a night to remember… for all the wrong reasons! So what girl would resist the gorgeous Dominic Kelly coming to her rescue?!  Especially when he’s whisking her out of the paparazzi’s prying eyes on the back of his motorbike – and wearing a tux to rival James Bond!
Nina soon realizes that the only way to recover from such a scandal is to toughen up and snag the role of the decade in the year’s hottest YA screen adaptation. Who better to train her than her very own professional stuntman? Getting up close and personal with Dom will take Nina well out of her comfort zone – both professionally and in her closely scrutinized private life.  But this A-list couple know only too well that’s it not all happy ever afters in Hollywood…
I’ve always written stories for myself, but didn’t even think of being an author until I realised that being over thirty and living in a fantasy world was a little odd. Writing those same stories for other people makes it a lot more acceptable!
By day I dress in cargo pants and boots for my not-so-glamorous job of making movies but at night I come home to my two little Princesses, in Johannesburg, South Africa, where I live, and I get to write Happy Ever Afters. Since I believe every girl is a princess, and every princess deserves a happy ending, what could be more perfect?
Author Links:
Buy Links:
Nina had to get out of here.
The only exit she knew was the same one she’d entered through, the entrance onto Sunset Boulevard where she’d have to run the gauntlet of half the world’s media.
Yet more cameras.
She couldn’t trust herself to hold it together for the length of that walk. She couldn’t trust herself to hold it together long enough to make it across the room.
“We have to get her out of here.”
Thank heavens. A voice of reason. Relief swamped her as she faced her agent and her publicist.
It was short-lived.
“Hold up your dress. You’re baring your butt to the world.” Dane grimaced as he gathered up a handful of ripped silk and thrust it at her. “Couldn’t you have worn a sexy thong at least?”
The unshed tears burned all the way to her throat. How long had her supportive granny pants been on display to the entire room? And was Martin Scorsese looking straight at her?
“Maybe the press outside won’t have got wind of this yet?” Dane said hopefully.
The look Chrissie sent him answered that one quickly enough.
“I’ll get her out of here. I know a back exit.”
All three of them turned to look at Dominic. The relief in the faces of her agent and publicist would have been insulting if she hadn’t felt the same.
Dominic grinned. “We’re going to walk out of here as if we don’t have a care in the world. You can manage that much, can’t you sweetheart?”
Nina nodded. The tears had stopped their insistent push against her eyelids. She already felt calmer. If she wasn’t still so aware of the sea of eyes all around, she would have leaned into him.
“Do it,” he said, holding her gaze, daring her. His eyes sparkled. They were an unusual color. Mesmerizing. Like dark emeralds flecked with gold. He placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her against him.
How had he known what she was thinking? She breathed in the scent of the wild sea, simultaneously frightening and exhilarating, and gave in. She leaned into him.
“That’s it. You’re an actress, so act. Now just follow my lead.”
His cheeky grin was back in place. She managed a weak one of her own. “You’re enjoying this,” she meant it to sound accusing, but the words came out more curious.
“Of course I am. You just rescued me from dying of boredom.” He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “Besides, the look on your publicist’s face was all the reward I needed.”
Of course. The note she’d caught in Chrissie’s tone had been intended to warn him that he didn’t stand a chance with Nina. Instead, she was leaving the party with him. She stifled a hysterical giggle.
Dominic took her free hand and led her through the crowd, not towards the kitchens or a service entrance, as she’d hoped, but straight toward their host. She prayed he knew what he was doing.
It wasn’t easy walking with one hand clasped behind her back, holding her gaping dress together, but she kept her chin up and she smiled. Not the furious, bright smile of before. She aimed more for a Mona Lisa effect now. It was about as much as she could manage.
Their host turned at their approach, smiling. “Leaving so soon, Dom?”
Dom grinned and shrugged. “You know how it is – I have a thing for damsels in distress. Thanks for another great dinner, and we’ll talk about that canoeing trip soon.”
Had Dominic been invited to the dinner and viewing party earlier in the night? Those tickets were gold. She did a rapid recalculation of this ‘lowly’ stunt man.
“I look forward to it.” Their host glanced down to where Nina clutched her torn gown together, then summoned over a minion with an all-access security pass around his neck. “Ms. Alexander has had a wardrobe malfunction. Please take them out the private exit.” Then he turned to Nina. “Thank you.”
She tried to sound as cool and amused as he did. “My pleasure. But what for?”
The older man’s grin reached ear to ear. “For providing me with the headline story for our webpage tomorrow.”
She wished she hadn’t asked.
The tuxedoed minion led them through the dining area, where the most privileged guests had sat for dinner, to an exit she hadn’t known existed.
“Shall I call the valet to bring your car around, Mr. Kelly?” the minion asked Dom.
“No need. I’m parked right outside.”
The minion frowned. Nina only just managed to stop her own frown from wrinkling her forehead. When she’d arrived there’d been a mile-long traffic jam and police everywhere. No one could have parked within walking distance of this place.
They passed two security checkpoints before they reached the exit to the back end of the Sunset Plaza parking lot. Nina dropped Dom’s hand and breathed in the cool night air. There were no fancy black Escalades parked out here, just vans and other working vehicles.
“What now?” she asked. “Are you going to sneak me out in a delivery van, or do you have a magical flying carpet stashed out here?”
Dom grinned. “As good as. How precious is that dress of yours?”
She glanced down to assess the damage and groaned. “I think it’s past saving.”
“Good.” He kneeled down and with a quick rip tore the remaining skirt off her dress.
“What are you doing?” she asked, trying to stop him. But she was too late. What had once been a slinky, scarlet, floor-length evening gown was now the length of a cocktail dress. A very short cocktail dress, with an uneven hemline that barely covered her granny pants.
Her PA was going to have to be very inventive to explain these new modifications to the designer.
He handed the torn expanse of fabric to her, then removed his jacket. “Cover yourself with this.” He helped her into the jacket, then placed his hand on her lower back to guide her between the cars.
To a motorbike.
No, not just any motorbike. A KTM offroad bike, with fiery orange paintwork and gleaming chrome. Not exactly subtle, but it was close and wouldn’t get stuck in the traffic jam out front. Nina nearly wept with relief.
A quick escape was worth the loss of one couture ball gown.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked, handing her the helmet hooked over the handle- bars.
The helmet was going to wreck the beautiful curls her stylist had labored over all day. But no one would see her now. They were as good as home free.
She pulled the helmet on, her fingers fumbling with the chin-strap. Dom stepped close to help her and she caught her breath.
A light bulb popped.
She looked around.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse…they did. Not a bulb, but a camera flash.
The pap who’d spotted them gave a shout and began to run toward them, camera held high.
Dom lifted her onto the back of his bike as if she weighed nothing, then straddled the seat between her legs and revved the bike to life. The roar nearly drowned out his voice. “Where are we going?”
“Anywhere,” she shouted back. Anywhere but home. The condo was barely a few blocks from here and the press would be all over it in two minutes as soon as this story broke.
She laughed. “I’m starving. I’d kill for a burger right now.”
Dom grinned back at her. “Hold on tight. I know just the place, but it’s gonna be a long drive…”