New Release ~ Ground Sweet as Sugar ~ by ~ Catherine C. Heywood

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This must-have collector’s edition includes Ground Sweet as Sugar and The Virtues of Vice, the alternate-ending novella, Into the Complete Unknown, and Catherine C. Heywood’s research notes on “Building the World of Seven Stars.” 1797: After a century of clarifying oppression, Ireland seethes on the brink of rebellion. It waits on one violent tremor—the execution of a seventeen-year-old girl. All Charlotte Dillon wants is to escape. When she slips her fate, she discovers her future lies in the hands of James Blair, a sugar planter with deep ties to her enemies. Bound to James for seven years, Charlotte must find a way to conceal her true identity and crime, even as they set sail for the West Indies, even as they confront the limits of their endurance, even as they fall in love. Meanwhile, an ocean away, a rebellion is unfolding and a mystery unraveling that threaten the tenderness growing between them. Through harrowing battles and the ache of longing, James and Charlotte must face devastating reckonings to finally know the sweetness they’ve earned. Sweeping from Ireland’s bleeding battlefields to St. Croix’s burning sugarcane fields, Ground Sweet as Sugar: The Complete Story is the entire saga of power, punishment, and undying love. Included in this adaptation is INTO THE COMPLETE UNKNOWN – An alternate-ending novella to the Ground Sweet as Sugar story, the unforgettable coming-of-age saga of one girl’s fight for her freedom, her country, and her heart… 1801: James Blair wakes, in pain and adrift, on the Caribbean Sea with no memory of how he got there. No memory, he soon discovers, of the last eight years of his life. All he wants is to retreat to what he knows, but forces around him demand he confront a tangled life he can’t seem to bear. Resolved to leave James for good, Charlotte Dillon flees the West Indies for a new life. But the most powerful woman in France and a mysterious man who seems to know her secrets disturb her quiet life in the vine rows of Montmartre. And little does she know that the one man who still moves her is the one man who’s still coming for her. Sweeping from a careless Caribbean to a restless France, Into the Complete Unknown is Book III in the epic Ground Sweet as Sugar saga of power, punishment, and undying love.

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Moments later, Charlotte storms onto the dock, a vision in gray silk and cream lace with a russet bow at the bodice and tendrils of auburn hair whipping free from the bun atop her head. The switch of her hips and the loud clack, clack, clack, clack of her shoes as she treads causes the men to part, leaving them stopped and gaping in her wake. Near the Anne’s gangplank, James casually leans against a post, his voice lighthearted as he banters with her crew. “How dare you!” Charlotte stops beside him. James turns, his expression falling from wide-open contentment to narrowed outrage in a blink. “How dare me? How dare you!” “How dare me? Me?” Keogh appears and claps them on their shoulders. “Children, has it been like this the whole time I’ve been away?” “No!” They answer in unison while glaring at one another. “Oh, good. You’ve been saving it up for my return.”

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Read the First Chapter HERE!

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Catherine C. Heywood is an Amazon bestselling author of romantic historical fiction and a former political speechwriter and communications consultant. Raised in Red Wing, Minnesota, she studied international politics at the University of Edinburgh and has degrees in politics, writing, and communications from the University of St. Thomas and Boston College. She explored the law and improv before settling on storytelling. Her worst job was scraping year-old tobacco spit off a shoe factory wall. Her best is doing this. She lives in western Wisconsin with her husband and sons, and her interests include architecture and design, fashion and food.

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New Release ~ Seducing the Warrior ~ by ~ Laura Shipley

Royce Davis has been living in darkness since an injury in battle left him with failing vision. When a fiery-haired vixen, Lily Moore becomes his employee, she brings with her an unexpected light and a yearning he can’t resist. But, when her past catches up to her, Lily and Royce find themselves caught up in a deadly game. Fans of steamy historical romances will want to sink their teeth into Seducing the Warrior by Laura Shipley, the first book in her To Love A Wicked Warrior Series.

Blurb

A soldier losing his vision. A lady fleeing for her life. An unlikely couple… bound together in desire, need, and love.

The man in the shadows…

Injured in battle and his sight failing, Royce Davis has been dwelling in darkness since his return to England, in more ways than one. Consumed by bitterness and pain, Royce is determined to make his way in the world alone. But when a fiery-haired vixen takes up his offer of employment, his heart is awakened by a woman whose beauty enthralls him and whose touch ignites a yearning he cannot resist.

The woman who brings the light…

On the run from a ruthless enemy, Lily Moore finds refuge in Royce Davis’s home. Refusing to be put off by her employer’s coarse manners, Lily senses the real man behind the facade…as well as a desperate passion she finds herself longing to answer.

The darkness that cannot be escaped…

Royce refuses to believe he could ever be worthy of a woman like Lily. But when the past catches up with his new assistant, he will move heaven and earth to keep her safe. Royce must prepare to do battle with a cunning adversary while fighting against his own blindness. Lily never meant for Royce to be caught up in this deadly game. But now what began as a business arrangement has become something much more. Can a bargain born of necessity lead them to a fated love? Or will a madman see them parted forever?

Add to Goodreads Here!

Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Excerpt

The horizon appeared to stretch on forever, though she knew across the sea lay the continent, but in this moment, she felt as if she were the only person in the world. All of a sudden, a great weight lifted from her. It felt like the sea had taken with it the part of her which had, for these last months, known nothing but pain and sorrow and had released her from it. A sob escaped, but Lily covered her mouth, trying to suppress the noise. She shouldn’t be crying, but perhaps they were only tears of joyful gratitude. After all this time, she might finally be able to have a life free of fear.Time seemed to pass at its own pace. The sun’s changing position in the sky the only indication that the day was progressing. How long had she stood there, gazing at the blue waters below? Surely it was time to return to the manor house. Lily took a few steps when she heard a horse approaching. Her pulse quickened, and she froze in place. Who would be coming here, so far away from any place? Should she try to hurry into the safety of the woods, or wait?

No, she was tired of running and knew there was nothing to fear. The men who had been after her wouldn’t know she had fled to the other side of the country. She waited, and after a moment, a horse and rider came into view, making their way up the hill that she stood on.

The man appeared young, perhaps around her age. He wore a long black riding coat, the tails bouncing behind him in time with his horse’s gait. His hat hid is hair, but she could see it was a darker color. Overall, she was inclined to call him handsome. All of this she saw in the few seconds before he pulled up his horse before her.

Buy Now or Read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

About Laura Shipley

Laura Shipley is an indie author who writes Victorian historical romance with dark, brooding heroes and strong-willed, feisty heroines. Her love of romance began the first time she “borrowed” one of the mother’s books and was hooked. While she reads all genres, paranormal romance is a close second to historical.

When she is not writing, Laura enjoys spending time with her husband and children. She has never met a piece of chocolate or a glass of wine that she did not like. Her third addiction is Starbucks, and the never ending need for caffeine to keep the creative juices flowing. She prefers movies over tv, too much of a time commitment, but likes spending time outdoors including hiking and rafting.

Her greatest joy is transporting readers to another time and place with her books, and to have her readers fall in love with the characters just as much as she does. Laura’s email is always open to comments or questions at thelaurashipley@gmail.com. Don’t forget to follow her on Facebook at TheLauraShipley for updates and other fun stuff.

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New Release ~ Baby Blue ~ by ~ Leesa Wright

Baby Blue by Leesa Wright is out now! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy of this gorgeous historical romance today!

Title: Baby Blue

Author: Leesa Wright

Genre: Historical Romance

About Baby Blue:

The saga of the Corrington brothers continues from the heart of San Francisco to Woodstock. Baby Blue takes the reader from the hippy movement through the post-war trials of returning Vietnam veterans.

Captain Donall Corrington: A Naval fighter pilot recovering from the physical and mental wounds from his time as a prisoner of war. Sitting on the dock of the bay, Donall meets Anablue Baker: A quirky flower child, alone and lost in the world. The Daughter of a vengeful admiral who has no problem using her for his gain. Anablue grieves for her twin brother lost to the horrors of war. Torn from the arms of the man she loves, terrified for her life, and to save her lover, Anablue flees to face her future on the run.

Captivated by her sky-blue eyes, nothing will stop Donall from righting the wrong of forbidden love. Returning to his arms the one woman he’s waited a lifetime to find.

Leesa Wright has again brought her love of history to life in this new 20th Century Historical Fiction Romance. Baby Blue is available now.

Come and be swept up in this romantic saga set amidst the tumultuous sixties. When a nation at war cries for peace and star-crossed lovers go on the adventure of a lifetime.

Get Your Copy Today!

Amazon | Paperback

Exclusive Excerpt:

“Where’s the kid?”

“What kid?”

“The little shitty one.” The hippy said.

“I don’t have a kid, shitty or otherwise,” Donall replied. The hippy looked at him, then leaned over the counter to look at the floor.

“Same blue shirt, no kid,” he mumbled. “You’re sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Donall replied as he picked up a bottle of strawberry oil, opened it, and sniffed the fragrance.

The hippy, a little wild-eyed now. “And the patchouli oil for your old lady?”

“She’s not old, and trust me, she doesn’t need it,” Donall replied.

The hippy scratched his head and gave him a strange look. “That’s exactly what you said before.”

“You okay, man?” Looking at his name tag. “You been sniffing glue on break, Mike?” Donall asked.

“Wow, this is far out, man. Maybe I dropped too much acid last night,” Mike replied.

Donall nodded his head, “Yeah. You might want to consider saving some brain cells, dude.” and he turned to leave.

“Peace out, man, power to the people,” Mike said as he raised his hand and gave him the peace sign.

“Yeah, peace,” Donall replied. Donall noted the red Camaro was gone. He climbed on his bike, revving the engine. He pulled away from the curb. Maybe I should take Anablue on a bike ride this weekend. We’ll see how tomorrow goes.

Read the Standalone Series Now!

About Leesa Wright:

Leesa makes her home in the Twin Cities metro area with her husband and her two dogs Rosie and Jax.

When she isn’t writing she enjoys gardening, painting, and reading romance novels. She and her husband also enjoy movies, traveling, and entertaining their two grown children along with several beautiful grandchildren.

Leesa’s favorite romance authors are Kathleen Woodwiss, Christine Feehan, and Johanna Lindsey.

The book’s inspiration came one night from a dream about the characters, a song, and the story around them.

Connect with Leesa:

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New Release ~ Book of Love ~ by ~ Erin Satie

Erin Satie is joining us for the release blitz of her historical romance, Book of Love! Check it out and be sure to get your copy today!

Title: Book of Love

Author: Erin Satie

Genre: Historical Romance

About Book of Love:

She’s trying to make ends meet. He’s out for a bit of fun.

Cordelia Kelly is busy, focused, worried about the future of her fledgling bookbinding business. When a handsome man stops her on the street to pester her with questions, she gives him the consideration he deserves: none.

That handsome man happens to be the Duke of Stroud, and he finds Cordelia’s hostility hilarious. He gives chase, if only for the pleasure of provoking her again.

He thinks life is a game. She doesn’t play around.

Within days of meeting Cordelia, Stroud sets a marching band on a matchmaking mama, defaces a local monument, and ropes Cordelia into a round of his favorite game.

In that same time, Cordelia stitches together the complete works of Mary Wollstonecraft, enthusiastically devotes herself to a petition demanding expanded legal rights for married women, and beats Stroud at his own game.

She defies all expectations. So does he.

Most people dismiss Stroud as a fool–himself included. When Cordelia sees past his lighthearted facade, he’s terrified and also… in love?

Stroud barges into Cordelia’s life, offering her all the material and sensual temptations she’s learned to do without. She usually has willpower to spare, but turning him down takes all of it, and then some. He’s oddly irresistible.

Or maybe they’re perfect for one another.

Get Your Copy Today!

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Exclusive Excerpt:

The dog stood about eight inches tall and half as wide, exquisitely detailed, with shiny black eyes and a little pink tongue lolling out from its open mouth, painted toenails peeking out from a fringe of fur.

Cordelia picked it up and, finding the statuette fairly light, turned it upside down. A scroll of paper poked out from the hole in the base.

Ruby swore under her breath.

“Have we fallen into one of your novels?” Cordelia asked, not entirely in jest. She plucked the paper from the dog’s belly and returned the sculpture to its spot—slowly, giving herself time to gather her courage—before carefully unrolling the note.

Rules of the Game

You have one week to deliver Homer the Roamer to a new owner.
You may employ any and all means at your disposal.
Do not get caught!!!
If you are caught, you must try again.
Each attempt must be unique. Once a delivery attempt has failed, you must devise a new scheme.
Once you are successful, you may enter his new address into the Official Register at Stroud House.

A picture of two hounds rampant stamped in red wax marked the end of the letter, in lieu of a signature.”

About Erin Satie:

Erin Satie is the author of the dark and elegant No Better Angels series, historical romances set in the early Victorian period. She’s currently hard at work on her upcoming series, Sweetness & Light, which should be just as elegant but not quite so dark.

Erin is a California native who’s lived on the coasts and in the heartland, in tiny city apartments and on a working farm. She studied art history in both college and graduate school—research is always her favorite part of starting a new book.

Her favorite part of finishing a book, whether reading or writing, is the happily ever after.

Connect with Erin:

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New Release ~ The Design of Dukes ~ by ~ Kathleen Ayers

Andromeda is the most frustrating creature Granby has ever encountered. When their insults turn to flirtation and the heated discussions between them lead to passionate kisses, will Andromeda succumb to their mutual attraction? Fans of steamy historical and enemies to lovers romances will devour The Design of Dukes by Kathleen Ayers, the next book in her Beautiful Barringtons Series.

Praise for Kathleen Ayers

“I loved this story. Kathleen rarely disappoints…” – Nazim, Goodreads Reviewer “Great read… she writes books that keep you reading through the night.” – Barbara, Goodreads Reviewer “Chemise. Stockings. Piano. What a fantastic line from this book. What a passionate scene when it does happen. All the angst and tension leading up to that moment was worth waiting for.” – Theresa, Goodreads Reviewer, The Theory of Earls

Read Now!

Lady Andromeda Barrington is the most unsuitable young lady in London.

At least in the Duke of Granby’s opinion. Granby doesn’t care for bastard relatives or tainted pedigrees and Andromeda possesses both. Nor does he like opinionated young ladies who enjoy hurling insults in his direction. Andromeda is, in short, the most annoying creature he’s ever met. When she arrives, uninvited, to a house party given at his estate, Granby can’t decide whether to kiss Andromeda senseless or send her packing. Andromeda is the victim of infatuation and bad luck. The infatuation is that of her sister for the Earl of Blythe, but the misfortune belongs solely to Andromeda after she is forced to attend a house party hosted by the Duke of Granby. She and the duke are previously, unpleasantly, acquainted. The entire party is bound to be awkward, and their mutual dislike difficult to hide. Her only recourse is to avoid the giant block of ice masquerading as a duke. Thankfully, Granby’s estate is enormous. But instead of mutual hostility upon arriving, Romy is greeted with unexpected attraction. Insults turn into flirtation. Heated discussions become lingering kisses. Her heart is ruined. Granby may not even have one. And the duke has already chosen another young lady to be his duchess. The Design of Dukes is a steamy historical romance with a guaranteed happily ever after and next in the series The Beautiful Barringtons. Add to Goodreads!

Excerpt

“Very well. I already know what you will ask for.” “You do?” That surprised him. He was so close to her that if Andromeda took a deep breath, the tips of her breasts would brush his chest. A pained look came over her lovely features. “And I completely understand, Your Grace.” “You do?” he murmured. “You wish me and Theo to leave the house party. It is unfortunate you and I have formed such a dislike for each other.” “Is that what you are calling it?” “I’ll make an excuse that I’m ill or I’m concerned for my mother so that we may return to London with all haste.” She turned away from him and bent at the waist, giving him another lovely view of her backside, glaringly apparent through the folds of petticoats she was encased in. Her hands flew over the papers spread out across the grass to gather them up. Andromeda assumed, incorrectly, he wanted her to leave The Barrow. The very thought gave him a hollow sensation in the middle of his stomach. “No. I would never suggest such a thing.” His voice sounded chilly even to his own ears. “You don’t need to, Your Grace. I take your meaning.” Andromeda hadn’t the slightest idea how badly David wanted her. He looked over her shoulder as her hands began to stack the papers neatly together. Not drawings of the stream and woods as he’d thought. What most young ladies with a mediocre talent for sketching would draw. But gowns. Dresses. One with a motif of butterflies across the skirt. There was even a sketch of a riding habit. I have an acquaintance who owns a dress shop. Andromeda, already fascinating, became more so. “I don’t wish you to leave the house party,” he said to the trim line of her back. “My presence clearly annoys you, Your Grace.” Indeed, it did, in so many ways David had stopped counting. “A correct assessment.” “Then Theo and I will leave in the morning.” “No,” his said roughly. “You will not.” Andromeda’s hands stilled on her drawings, stiffening with anger at his commanding tone. David stared at the line of buttons running down her spine. Could he bite them off with his teeth? The dress would fall away from her shoulders, exposing all her glorious skin. She turned back to face him, angrily tying a piece of leather around the portfolio to keep it closed. “What else could you possibly want, Your Grace? An apology for the insult about your coat? How petty, it was well over a year ago.” His head fell forward, nose gliding up the slope of her neck, inhaling the soft lavender scent lingering on her skin. A soft gasp of surprise left her, but she didn’t move away. The portfolio fell from her hands. “I want this,” he whispered. David nuzzled the bit of skin just beneath her ear before catching her lips with his.

About Kathleen Ayers

Kathleen Ayers has been a hopeful romantic since the tender age of fourteen when she first purchased a copy of Sweet Savage Love at a garage sale while her mother was looking at antique animal planters. Since then she’s read hundreds of historical romances and fallen in love dozens of times. In particular, she adores handsome, slightly damaged men with a wicked sense of humor. On paper, of course. Kathleen lives in Houston and is married with one college-aged son and two very spoiled dogs. Follow: Facebook | Instagram | Reader Group | Goodreads | BookBub | Website | Newsletter | Amazon

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New Release ~ The Virtues of Vice ~ by ~ Catherine C. Heywood

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The epic conclusion to Ground Sweet as Sugar, the unforgettable coming-of-age saga of one girl’s fight for her freedom, her country, and her heart… 1801: After two years, Charlotte Dillon returns enchained to James Blair. Once again, she’s condemned and he’s entangled with another. Yet the longing that has always persisted between them remains. While his sailors demand blood, James is faced with an agonizing test: How to exact a just punishment on the one woman he can’t bear to hurt? Bound in an impossible love, James and Charlotte confront cunning threats, endure a devastating storm, and face the tenderest of reckonings. Meanwhile in Ireland, Charlotte’s aunt chases down the mystery that tore a family and a country apart. A young lord comes of age still dreaming of justice for his brother. And when menacing shadows surround them, James and Charlotte must fight to save every piece of sweetness they’ve earned. Sweeping from a roiling Caribbean to a conspiring Ireland, The Virtues of Vice is Book II in an epic saga of power, punishment, and undying love.

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View the Trailer HERE!

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Enter the Release Day Giveaways HERE and HERE!

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The old wooden floor beside agricultural fields in the evening and beam sunset

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In the carriage once more, James moves to sit across from Charlotte while tears well in her eyes. “I can’t bear to think of it,” she says, wiping her cheeks. “I may very well have caused the death of that man.” “You did cause it.” James hands her a handkerchief, and his voice is ice cold as he continues, “Whether ‘twas your blade or a comrade’s, you did. And you’d do well not to remind me of that fact. Patrick O’Mara was a good man.” Now Charlotte’s tears fall, and James can’t bear to look, so he fixes his gaze out the window. At long length, they ride like this, the bondswoman crying while the planter chews on everything he’s thinking and feeling, all the vicious things he should never say. Until finally, after a half hour passes, he looks at her and says, “How could you do it?” Charlotte shakes her head and sighs. “It’s a complicated matter.” “It’s murder. How complicated is that?” “It’s war. That’s different.” “Only in your mind are you at war.” “Are you calling me mad?” she asks. “It’s your rebellion that’s mad,” James replies. “Where’s my letter?” “What letter?” “The letter I kept close to my heart. It was in my bindings. Where is it?” “The one recounting how your rebellion lives on, though you are crushed?” James asks. “Would you like to tell me where those treasonous rats are hiding?” “What do you care? You’ve made it plain you have no enthusiasm for Ireland or her politics.” “I care about you,” he says. “I care that you not dare to take the one woman I cherish above all others into that fray ever again. For if you persist, there may come a day I cannot keep you from the noose.”

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Read the First Chapter HERE!

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Cover Reveal ~ Book of Love ~ by ~ Erin Satie

Erin Satie is joining us to reveal the cover of her upcoming historical romance, Book of Love! Check out the gorgeous cover and be sure to pre-order today!

Title: Book of Love

Author: Erin Satie

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: April 20

About Book of Love:

She’s trying to make ends meet. He’s out for a bit of fun.

That handsome man happens to be the Duke of Stroud, and he finds Cordelia’s hostility hilarious. He gives chase, if only for the pleasure of provoking her again.

He thinks life is a game. She doesn’t play around.

Within days of meeting Cordelia, Stroud sets a marching band on a matchmaking mama, defaces a local monument, and ropes Cordelia into a round of his favorite game.

She defies all expectations. So does he.

Most people dismiss Stroud as a fool–himself included. When Cordelia sees past his lighthearted facade, he’s terrified and also… in love?

Or maybe they’re perfect for one another.

Pre-Order Today!

About Erin Satie:

Her favorite part of finishing a book, whether reading or writing, is the happily ever after.

Connect with Erin:

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Book Tour ~ The Fury of Angels ~ by ~ Julian M. Coleman

Title: The Fury of Angels

Series: The Damned Reflections Trilogy #1

Author: Julian M. Coleman

Genre: Historical Romance/Women’s Fiction

Release Date: January 25, 2021

‘Julian M. Coleman manages to captivate the reader with a story that is beyond the scope of any usual supernatural fantasy. This is a dark tale, at times leaning towards gothic, other right into light horror, it’s in fact the stuff of nightmares, and yet, flows nicely page after page into a complex thread that forces the reader to keep on reading until the very last page and then ask for more.’ ~ Goodreads Review (Katheyer)

‘The author knocked it out of the ballpark with this installment. This book was a complete page turner…” ~ Goodreads Review (Bridgett)

Sammy is a prep school kid struggling with teen love and bullying. Sara is a shaman’s daughter, an outcast and a sociopath. The princess and the warrior are identical best friends surviving in different centuries. They are also ruthless killers doomed to immortality.

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PROLOGUE
ILLINOIS TERRITORY – 1854
RUTHIE

Thin slivers of sunlight pierced the stark gray clouds blanketing the horizon. A cold wind whistled through the crack of the poorly constructed sash of the bedroom window. Ruthie didn’t hear the howling sound or feel the frigid temperature.

Familiar wretchedness lapped over her heart as she knelt by the makeshift crib, a thing of rough timber tied together with scraps of rope.

She wanted to disbelieve the truth. But her eyes, leaking perpetual tears, saw how the woolen blankets no longer held her curly-haired toddler. He was gone.

No! She had tucked him into bed the previous night with a heartfelt kiss on his cheek. Her soul ached as she absorbed the painful truth. Massa had taken her son as he had stolen the others. This time she hadn’t been allowed to see him grow much older than his need for a wet-nurse. She had always known Massa would sell him. The urgency this time was the family’s desperate need for money.

Ruthie held her breast as her heart pounded against her ribcage. A low, persistent moan snared in her throat failed to swell into a soul-searing scream.

“Ruthie, you is disturbing me with all that sniveling. Git your ass in the kitchen and start making breakfast. I know you ain’t expecting me to fix it!” The annoyed, nasal tone emitted from the Missus’ sunny private reading room.

The rebuke forced Ruthie’s silence, but the pain gnawed her heart. She rose to her feet on legs barely able to support her statuesque frame. And as hard as she tried, she couldn’t stop looking at the empty crib, the rumpled blankets, and a discarded toy, a pitiful thing she’d made out of rags…which he had adored.

“Ruthie! Come here, girl!” The irritation in Missus’ tone meant further sufferings. This time, the infuriating voice streamed from the kitchen.

Ruthie straightened her back, stiffened her shoulders, and lifted her head. Today is going to be different, she promised herself.

Then she chastised herself. After all, she was to blame for wanting to keep him. For falling in love with his liquid brown eyes and curly black hair. For allowing the maternal stirrings to manifest each time she had nursed him.

“Ruthie! I ain’t going to call you again! We’re hungry. Git your ass out here! Or do you want me to come in there and beat you?”

“Comin’ Missus!” she tried to wrench the emotion out of her voice. By the time she emerged from her tiny room near the food cellar, she had pasted on a smile.

Missus, a plain, broad woman in a gingham dress, wore her dark hair in a bun. She sat alone at the kitchen table, sipping from a cup. Her small blue eyes gleamed as she lowered her drink and twisted her lips into a self-satisfied sneer.

Missus relished her pain. Now there wouldn’t be a brown baby to remind her of Massa’s peculiar and non-Christian tastes for his slave.

“Good mornin’, Missus,” Ruthie chimed in false cheerfulness.

Although she could silence her whimpers, she couldn’t stop the tears from spilling down her cheeks. She escaped the hostile scrutiny by wrapping herself in a shawl, grabbing the basket, and departing for the chicken coop. The hired hands, ne’er-do-well white men more likely to drink hooch than put in a day’s work, were repairing the fence. The sinister way they eyed her comings and goings made her nervous.

In the distance, she heard the girls, nine-year-old Glorie and her younger sister, Mabel, laughing, although she didn’t see them. She guessed they were somewhere close, playing a game like, Hide and Seek, as usual. As she filled her basket with fresh eggs, the ever-present agony bored a wider hole in the remnants of her heart.

It wasn’t right. Massa and Missus kept both their children when she couldn’t keep even one of hers.

Alone in the chicken coop, she sank to her knees and wept. With no one nearby to hear, she loudly cried as the pain ripped apart her soul.

“Ruthie!”

She coughed out the wad of emotion lodged in her throat. “Coming, Missus!” She rose from her knees. A part of her hoped for the familiar numbness to take hold, but this time there wasn’t a blanketing detachment to coat over the debilitating injury. The loss continued to grate her heart into shreds.

She assumed her tasks as if watching herself perform them from a distance. She fried eggs, salt ham and biscuits, and later she watched as Missus and her golden-haired girls gobbled their meal. They chatted, laughed and ate as their lives continued. Slyly, she watched them as a nugget of pure hatred welled in the empty pit of her heart.

Next, she took out a tray to the field hands. The riffraff didn’t bother washing up. Instead, they dived into the food with the ferocious gluttony of wild pigs.

As she cleared and cleaned the morning dishes, she heard Massa’s lazy steed clip-clop to the stables. Ruthie caught her breath. She held onto a minuscule iota of optimism he hadn’t sold their son. Massa’s lone entrance into the house dashed all hope. Her missing son was not in the company of his father.

The gangly man with pocked skin unloaded sacks of flour, seeds and tobacco. Under his arm, he carried a bolt of cloth and two new dolls. He placed the items on the table, and then he looked around before swatting Ruthie on her derriere.

Tears formed, but she refused to cry.

She hated him. She always had. Briefly, she remembered how he’d made her a woman before she’d had her first bleeding. She’d been a child, wrenched from her mother’s care, sold and bedded in less than one day.

Massa wasn’t indeed a prosperous businessman. He’d sold his home and failing business in Philadelphia and all his slaves except Ruthie, to stake his claim in Illinois. His skill with farming and raising sheep was as dubious as his haberdashery talents had been.

“Henry!” Missus squealed at the store-bought items. She unrolled the cloth. “A new Sunday dress for church!” she gushed. “It’s lovely!”

He planted a tepid kiss on Missus’ faintly mustachioed lips. “Nothing but the best for my angels.” The girls each took a doll and began squabbling over which one was prettier.

Julian M. Coleman is a wife, mother and grandmother who enjoys reading, gardening and running as well as writing horror novels from her home in Richmond, Virginia. She is a diehard Stephen King/Anne Rice fan and wasn’t surprised when her first trilogy won a Best Paranormal/Horror award.

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New Release ~ Ground Sweet as Sugar ~ by ~ Catherine C. Heywood

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One girl’s fight for her freedom, her country, and her heart… 1797: After a century of clarifying oppression, Ireland seethes on the brink of rebellion. It waits on one violent tremor—the execution of a seventeen-year-old girl. All Charlotte Dillon wants is to escape. When she slips her fate, she discovers her future lies in the hands of James Blair, a sugar planter with deep ties to her enemies. Bound to James for seven years, Charlotte must find a way to conceal her true identity and crime, even as they set sail for the West Indies, even as they confront the limits of their endurance, even as they fall in love. Meanwhile, an ocean away, a rebellion is unfolding and a mystery unraveling that threaten the tender sweetness growing between them. And when the fight comes to her, Charlotte finds herself torn between her cause and her heart. Sweeping from Ireland’s bleeding battlefields to St. Croix’s burning sugarcane fields, Ground Sweet as Sugar is Book I in an epic saga of power, punishment, and undying love.

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Watch the trailer HERE!

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Cover Reveal ~ Glitter ~ by ~ Abbi Glines

Abbi Glines is excited to announce her next book release, Glitter, a Historical Fiction Romance coming this Spring!

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Title: Glitter

Author: Abbi Glines

Genre: Regency Romance

Release Day: TBA

Cover Designer: https://damonza.com

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Lies, Deceit, Vengeance, Desire, and Hate… wrapped up in a façade of all that sparkles and shines. A pretty face, a fetching smile, a fabulous gown, a flutter of lashes at just the right moment – Miriam had been taught she must do all these things to land a wealthy husband. Much preferring the company of books to people, the only thing that stopped Miriam from fleeing to the countryside was her younger sister – who was counting on Miriam to make a match that would ensure she could care for her mother and sister properly. He knew his duty to his title and he would do as was necessary. Although Hugh Compton, Earl of Ashington, hadn’t wanted his father’s title at the age of nine and twenty, he gained it two years ago when his father died unexpectedly. The only good that had come of that was Hugh had been able to move his father’s wife to the dowager house. Now it was time to marry. Many disliked the arrogant Earl of Ashington but none so much as his brother. After his mother was sent off as if she were trash to be disposed of, Nathaniel swore he’d even the score. With the intent of charming the boring Lydia Ramsbury right out of his brother’s arms, Nathaniel discovered it was a new face that had captured his brother’s attention – a one Miss Miriam Bathurst. Vengeance had never looked so sweet

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Enter the Cover Reveal Giveaway HERE!

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Abbi Glines is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Rosemary Beach, Sea Breeze, Vincent Boys, Field Party and Existence series. She never cooks unless baking during the Christmas holiday counts. She believes in ghosts and has a habit of asking people if their house is haunted before she goes in it. She drinks afternoon tea because she wants to be British but alas she was born in Alabama. When asked how many books she has written she has to stop and count on her fingers. When she’s not locked away writing, she is reading, shopping (major shoe and purse addiction), sneaking off to the movies alone, and listening to the drama in her teenagers lives while making mental notes on the good stuff to use later. Don’t judge. You can connect with Abbi online in several different ways. She uses social media to procrastinate.