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Gayle Eden/Eve Asbury~ Novels - Recently Updated Pages

Home

Author Bio and FAQ

Book Reviews

Book Reviews #2

Links to Blogs

Booklist

Information for Authors/writers

EXCERPTS OF EVE~GAYLE NOVELS

Gayle Eden~Eve Asbury Excerpts #2

Upcoming and New WIPs

Works in progress

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All about Books

Story blurbs

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©
....

By .B.D.Dillon
The Amaranthine series. An urban Fantasy serial with heroes to die for.....
Six installments in all.

Also by B.D.Dillon
The Hunting Grounds-mystery
Lucid-thriller

There four books in the Eve Asbury and Gayle Eden writing stage.... Pirates, fantasy warriors, Medieval knights, and more

My greatest wish would be to have time to write on Book two of Bring on the Rain. Brook's story is called Just close your eyes...
I've had the rough sketch of that book done for about a year, but because I wear all the hats and have to work 24/7 on edits lol. I haven't had the time to completely dive into it.

In Dec of 07, the final book in the One Hot Summer tri will be out at Whiskey creek press.

I've always got several WIPS.
Two of the Amaranthine are already written, because it is a series, it presents some challenges, and more research than you can imagine. Book 3, Myst is mortal, and because of the secret behind her memory loss, I've been four months doing research.

All of the characters, Caderyn, Rune, Senka, Myst, Bree, and Talon, seem to have separate histories, but you'll discover that though they have become immortal in different times, different ways, it is no accident that they found each other. From a Dragon warrior, to a medieval warlord, a vampire and a slave from the viking era who shape shifts- and of course the genus who is more than he appears, this is the most complex story line Ive ever weaved, and since I want to keep the page count short, the serial more like an episode, it is tricky and challenging. However, I have told myself that I will put the first one out, after I write the third installment, which puts me half way through... I hope to do that soon.

In case the word is new to you, here is the def. I sort of fell in love with the title, because I found it so fitting...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Amaranthine

Whispers In The Dark

[AUG [2007]

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Whispers In The Dark

[AUG [2007]

January 2007

February 2007

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Imagine Me

by Gayle Eden Buy the e book at Alinar Publishing or Fictionwise. Paperback avail at Air Castle book store. ----------

Imagine Me

by Gayle Eden Buy the e book at Alinar Publishing or Fictionwise. Paperback avail at Air Castle book store. ----------

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©
Welcome.Author(AKA-D) is Gayle Eden~B.D.Dillon~Eve Asbury.

I write Contempoary, ST Romance, sultry Regency,westerns and fiction. Here you will find updates,blurbs,coming soon and chat-events. Stay up to date on the latest releases and various formats available. E formats and paperback are listed with links to purchase. Access various pages to read reviews, story samples and new works in progress. Thanks for dropping by, leaving a comment, or simply visiting. Happy reading.

Air Castles Books is also the retail site STORE.. http://www.aircastlebooks.com You can also access the store from www.evesromance.com
What I read is here http://www.shelfari.com/eveasbury/lists/IsRead

myspace is http://www.myspace.com/mighty_muse

AKA-D — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:25:10 CST

ST Romance author Eve Asbury, and Sensual Romance writer Gayle Eden are also fiction author B.D. Dillon. They are all alter egos of Dian Addair, an author whose dreams of writing were put on hold in her twenties while she raised a son and daughter and worked several jobs. Romance novels kept her sane during some of those busy years, which took her from West Virginia to living in a suburb of Washington, DC for fifteen more, until finally settling her in East Tennessee, surrounded by the North Holston River, where she can write to her hearts content.
She calls her life as a young grandmother, controlled chaos. Actually it’s quite normal for a woman who was born 9th in line and was an aunt by age five. She sets aside Saturdays for family, cooking, and romping with her 5 grandchildren. The rest of the week, when not stealing an hour with her busy husband, she’s at the computer immersing herself in another good plot.
A writer who believes in story telling, in giving herself the freedom to write whatever story speaks to her heart. This prolific author says she tries not to limit her characters by outline, but has a vague idea, that generally they run away with. She’s found its better to indulge her muse than try and control it. A bit like real life, it happens, and there’s always something new and surprising that makes the experience rewarding.

Author interviews at
loves Romances http://www.loveromances.com/interview_eveasbury.html ©
Romance Junkies
Alinar publishing
Romance at Heart Magazine
E bookstore http://www.aircastlebooks.com

FAQ and writing Biz

How long have you been writing?

Full time? About 5 years. You can deduct 3 of those for when I had about 17 critique partners, joined writing groups, and basically threw out everything I thought I knew about writing, to start all over again. (yeah, bought all the books, was a junkie of how to) But I have written in my head since I was 16, and decided it would be the greatest dream. LOL. it came many, many years after living in the real world, working real thankless jobs-hubby was the career oriented one :) I never loved a job enough to want to do it more than 3-4 years, and raising a son and daughter. In fact, I became a grandmother the year I finally decided I was going to take the plunge and just do it. Boy, was I in for some surprises.

What do you read?
Everything. I have always read a lot. I have my old favs, my keeper shelf. But I read fantasy, history, bios, all sorts of books that just seem interesting. I worked in the school library just so I could read for free. I've always visited the bookstore, when the kids were little, we went every Wednesday and bought a book. That's not counting me hunting the used stores and coming home with bags full.)

Group membership.
For many, many years, I was a member of RWA. I never lived close to a group to attend meetings. But I let my membership lapse in 2000. Now I have membership in a G'zillion yahoo groups. Few of which I can find time to stay on top of, and write as often as I do, or attend the biz of writing.

What inspires you?
Everything from memories, to music, to movies and other books, mostly non fiction. I'll read something on parkland's in the northern US and want to write a book about it. Or a history book. I love to read old journals and newspapers and magazines from the 1800's. Readers and fans inspire me, people who are positive and who like my stories. Heck, I've written 2nd books I never intended to, just for readers :) It's not normally the familiar things that get me inspired, but the unusual. In history, it's more that one unique woman, than the typical debutant. There are those who want a historical based on (common knowledge or preconceived notions) not me. I come across a woman who defied the times, or a murder among the aristocrats, I'm digging that fact pile, they're more interesting.

Why three pen names.
Each writes in a different genre or sub genre, and a different voice. I feel that readers have expectation with a certain author. Take Eve, she's a "come sit by me" folksy or straight to the heart writer. She's the me I'd be, actually telling you the story, in my back yard over a cup of coffee. Laid back :). Gayle Eden is that deeply hidden, but passionate woman (wink) probably only my husband knows well. She's whispers and silk, a glass of wine, a scrap of lace and scented candles. She's the part of me who loves anything Regency or romantic. And witty...

B.D. Dillon. That's kind of the tomboy I always was, but the more serious and introspective. Most of those books aren't romance. They may have relationships, love-making, but they are fiction under other sub genres; mystery, fantasy, thrillers. Writing as B.D. I give myself a chance to not focus on romance and make myself plot a bit more in the first stage of writing the story. I have to depend less on the characters and more on twists, turns, bigger issues.
Layla Dane is another pen name I have stories under, that aren't published yet.
You see, I think, if a reader buys Gayle Eden, she or he expects that pace and voice and Gayle Eden tone. Same with Eve, who writes single title, long romance with a wide view, instead of Gayle's very tight focus on the couple. All those pen names allow me to write different stories so that I don't burn out on the same ones. They allow me to write different pace, tone, structure and layers. A reader knows what kind of story they are getting under that name, a tight focused Gayle, wide lens Eve, a mix fiction Dillon.

Why did you start in e books?
Because they were different. I couldn't write formula, nor did I want to be (Branded) as a certain kind of writer. I had 24 novels written and in the NY biz, you might spend a year submitting, a year finding an agent, another year waiting for one book to come out. I was 40 when I got the chance to write full time, (empty nest) I didn't have all of that time. My writer friends were writing e books while they submitted to NY. All I knew was about the NY writing Industry, my contacts were all those kinds of authors.(and I am thankful to those who helped me understand that complex world and the craft)
But I had so many books I just dived right into e books. (Don't follow that lead lol, do your research )
It was a new format with possibilities. I contracted with 5-8 e publishers, learned a lot- the hard way- and got the good, bad and ugly of the industry. I often debated going back to my roots and groups- with the NY ambitions, but I'd established some loyal readers and I decided to stick with it.
Now, when many of those contracts are nearing their end. I have joined an INDY co-op Alinar publishing. We're writers who have the e industry experience and have learned about it. We wanted more control over what we wrote, quality covers, decent edits (don't get me started, and no, you won't find perfection now either lol) ...and the ability to control price ( keeping it low). Though I must say, paying an editor, buying covers, you cross your fingers you'll earn out in e books what you've sunk into it. In Indy publishing, you still have to pay people, you still pay 50% or more to retail sites for listings, and that's aside from marketing and all sorts of fees on the side. Think about it, if an average NY published author (S.King and Nora Roberts aside), but the typical writer, lives on $5,000 a year, and their books have a 53,000 plus readership, thanks to being in bookstores, you can imagine how little an e author makes and how small his or her audience is.

I once had a lawyer say to me ( "26 or more % royalties, do you realize in NY they might make 6%") and my answer was, yeah, but we aren't on your bookstore shelf, we aren't in libraries, and if you don't go on line, you'll never hear of us. We don't have a smidgen of that exposure to the readers who read what we write. And you can take that x% down after everyone in the middle gets their cut. It ain't pretty lol.

In e books, You have to write often and hopefully, you'll break even with each book. I have no idea how those who don't have a husband who brings home the bread do it... but then, I love writing, and I think e books are still new enough to go somewhere in the future. Everyone in this biz has to love it, else you'd be crazy to do all you do, and still work a day job.

Print copies. What is POD?
K- I see all kinds of skewed, misinformed statements about what POD is. I can't speak for every publisher or author. But, I can say-- that in my case, POD is the printer (co)used to print out the e book. It is the paperback version of an e book. That isn't the same thing as (print rights) in a contract. Many authors like me have kept their print rights so if NY wants one of my books, those rights are avail. I contract on a limited time basis only for e rights, and that is any type of media in the digi area- Most of those include a right to POD. that is, making that e book avail on paper.

In the case where I still have all rights, I'm still doing the same thing. I'm making an e book avail in print. I find a printer who prints and ships the books (not like I have a warehouse lol) as they are ordered. I have to pay that printer, per page, also a printing fee and a %. so, no. the higher price isn't dough I'm making, it's less than a 2 dollar royalty, and that's before I pay other fees, so my cut would be 1.00 or less. I cant speak for publishers who have my print books on sale. They contract through mysterious ways lol. I can and do, only speak for the books not under contract anywhere The whole concept of making stories avail in paperback, is so the reader has the option to buy it that way. Many readers can't sit at the computer that long and don't want to buy a hand held e reader, so they can get the book in print. I wish I could make it a cheaper process, but I have nothing to do with that end. The reason Alinar books are Not sold through wider distributors yet (Amazon and so on) is because I want to keep the price low, and avoid fees that would make them higher- for necessity (middle men get paid) -so selling direct from my store, you're paying the bare min, rock bottom as they say in the south. The e books are listed on this site, my main website, where the reader can exercise that option when buying. Later on we might contract with wider distribution. But since an e book is an e book, even printed out, we're looking at print as an alternative way to read the story. E-books are still our main focus.

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What are you writing now?
Now, I'm editing. I'm always editing. But see the WIP page for details on specific stories.

I'd like to thank readers who buy my books, those who made the leap into e books a great experience. Reviewers, who have been generous and fair, and behind the scenes people who go through the highs and lows with me. I hope to keep writing in this venue--, format rather. I believe e books and this kind of alternative is great for authors who write often and who want to provide all types of books for readers. Without readers, even the dream of writing isn't as bright. All that biz and all the distractions aside, when I sit down to write, I'm just thinking of the person reading it. since I love reading too, I want to keep that connection strong.
I know, I'm so busy with a thousand things that I don't get to socialize with readers the way I did on line, say 2-3 years ago. But I hope I'm bringing them stories they enjoy, and the story is the part of all this, that will matter to us both.
All the hats I have to wear, some I suck at, like tech stuff on the site rofl, but everything that I (have) to do, in order to make the books avail, is nothing like the joy I feel writing, and the satisfaction I get, when readers are happy with it. In life, work, family, we get caught up in things that distract and drain us. It's the same with writing, with the cynics and the neg types and the grind of having to think of it as a biz instead of your dream. There's always a buzz, industry, gossip, opinions- that can't derail you. But the way you feel when you enjoy one of my books, is the way I feel when writing it. At that moment, that's really all we care about.:)

Happy reading.:)
©

AKA-D — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:22:29 CST

Note, E review sites with archived reviews of Gayle Eden or Eve Asbury novels may wish to update their information (isbn) and covers of works published in 05-and 06 that are no longer in contract with those publishers, the legal copies of those works are re-issued through Eve-Gayle's Air Castle bookstore http://www.aircastlebooks.com . You can contact the author via the contact page at www.evesromance.com . Gayle~Eve would be happy to provide you with covers and information. With the exception of (4 novels with Whiskey creek, champagne books , Gayle Eden and Eve Asbury holds (all) exclusive rights to the works published through Air Castle. These works are filed with the LOC and protected by copyrights. Any established reviewer wishing to review works by this author can contact the author to recieve arcs or the published book to review. You may also use the contact pages avail at www.evesromance.com

find Gayle Eden and Eve Asbury books at http://www.aircastlebooks.com

Award winning Reviws
A Taste of temptation - Joyfully Reviewed

Fallen Angels Rec reading

Bring on the RainEcataromance
One Hot summer
Every time you go Away
Worth the Risk

Access Reviews of Gayle Eden /Eve Asbury books at the following sites and More. Goggle name and title to find archived Reviews. Search for Romance Junkies Blue Ribbon Reviews.
©Romance Divas © ecataromance http://www.ecataromance.com/home_page ©Romance Junkies http://theromancestudio.com/reviews ©Coffeetime Romance ©Lovesromances ©sime-gen reviews ©All About romance (AAR) ©A Romance Review ©Road to Romance

Worth The Risk

Romance Junkies ©http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/historical/Worth_The_Risk_5409.shtml
©Coffeetime Romance
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/WorthTheRisk.html
©Bring on the Rain (The Romance Studio)
http://www.theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/bringontherainasbury.htm

Rock my world (Gotta write network)
©http://gottawritenetwork.com/rockmyworld.html
©Romance Divas reviews

http://romancedivas.com/bookreviews_files/WorththeRisk-Asbury.pdf

http://romancedivas.com/bookreviews_files/BringontheRain-Asbury.pdf
http://romancedivas.com/bookreviews_files/RockMyWorld-Eden.pdf

The Fox
Romance Junkies ©
http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/historical/The_Fox_4865.shtml

Worth the Risk 1880

Lord Nicolas Balfour Montague suffers execution if he stays in Europe but his valet; Gaston, refuses to allow that to happen. His mother was already hanged for treason, and Gaston believes by leaving Europe and going to America, Nicolas will be safe. Of course, after they arrive, Nicolas spends much of his time slumming and drowning in alcohol which only irritates Gaston. After coming across a pamphlet on Nebraska, Gaston feels it would be best to head there and discover some new opportunities for Nicolas. Of course, trying to fit into America, with their English duds and English traits, found them almost as outcast and often not treated with a warm welcome. Josie Sullivan runs Sullivan Farms and understands about prejudices, as well as grief, anger, and resentment. She and her siblings, Erin and Brody, do not believe in fighting with guns or knives but rather strength and determination. All the siblings have is their farm, and it certainly cannot run itself. After Brody encounters the mistreatment of Nicolas and Gaston, when they arrive in town, he offers to step in and help, but it lands them all three in jail. Brody has Cheyenne blood and knows all too well about being picked on by others. Josie goes into town to bail Brody out of jail, only to end up helping Nicolas and Gaston, too, by offering them a job on the farm. Nicolas knows nothing about hard work since he has had servants most his life. Josie is determined to show Nicolas how to survive in the west, it takes hard work, dedication and the perseverance to continue on as they fight their growing attraction for the other.

I found Worth the Risk a most compelling read with in-depth characters that keeps the story moving along greatly. Each character counterbalances the story and makes it even more convincing with their actions. Josie and her siblings struggle through many obstacles and continue to move forward. Gaston and Nicholas are from a different part of the world, unfamiliar with the western lifestyles, and just visualizing Gaston in overalls, out riding a horse allowed this reader to get a view in their mind of their new lifestyles. Eve Asbury pens a great historical read with many emotions, love, and different customs, not to mention extreme hatred, as the characters seek to find a way to overcome harsh situations while building a bright future. There were moments my heart went out to Nicolas because of his upbringing, while almost living like the prodigal son to find meaning in life, while falling in love. This is one recommended read that really comes to life.

Reviewed by: Linda L. ©

Every Time You Go Away Eve Asbury ©
Historical romance

Gaetan Leflur had come to England to find a wife in answer to a friend’s deathbed request. He resented the way they treated him due to his mixed heritage of half French and half Arapaho. He was tired of the questions about half naked savages running around wild and scalping people. He knew he would be able to find a wife because even with his background someone would want to marry him for his money. He just did not know how the frail English debutantes he had seen so far would fair in the wilds of America. He was surprised when a young woman approached him and asked if he would consider her as a bride. Lady Moyra Dunford was desperate. If Gaetan Leflur did not want her she was considering drowning herself in the Thames River. Life was unbearable and things were getting worse. She knew she was plain but she was wealthy and she would do anything and be anything he required, if he would just take her away. After listening to her reasons Gaetan decides that Moyra would suit his needs although not what he typically looks for in a woman. Thus began the adventure of Gaetan and Moyra and it only gets better. Every Time You Go Away is an emotionally stirring story of two vulnerable people from different worlds coming together to find love. It tells the difficulty of these two learning to recognize love and trusting it enough to let it grow. Eve Asbury has created a richly woven story with characters that touch the heart. Gaetan does not trust love because he has never been loved. His background is painful, bringing tears to the reader’s eyes as he faces his past and lays it to rest. Moyra has known happiness only to have it ripped away and left with pain an abuse. She wants nothing more at the beginning but her freedom. As she spends time with Gaetan she craves his love. The chemistry is there between them and at times frustrating as they each fear rejection. When passion is set free it is explosive. Extremely sensual they lose themselves in each other. Exciting scenes are described through the words of the author making the setting easily visualized. Amazing things happen as Moyra experiences the American West. This is a fascinating story that is sure to touch the hearts of the readers. Organized, smooth flowing words are created by Eve Asbury to share a tale of colorful characters and their journey to love. Romance, action, and adventure all are to be found in this wonderful story. I highly recommend Every Time You Go Away, to all readers. Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual Reviewer: Anita
September 9, 2006

Every Time You Go Away

Author: Eve Asbury
Lady Moyra Dunford has been the ward to Lord Elliot, Earl of Ridgefield and his sister, the Dutchess of Hollingsworth, for the past five years. She must find a way to break free from their evil and controlling clutches before the Earl makes his final move in his plan to wed her himself and get full power over her vast wealth.

Gossips are in rare form as they discuss Gaetan Leflur’s arrival into London society. He is half French and half Arapaho Indian American and has worked hard for his money. Gaetan knows he should never have made the promise to find a wife to his dying uncle. Amoung the debutantes, he sees no one among who could survive in the wilds of the American West; that is, until he is approached by the very plain, but blunt and charming Moyra. She explains the plight with her guardians and makes him a deal he cannot refuse. Their carefully laid plans to free Moyra are a complete success. Now, she can start looking for her brother. Her journey across the ocean to her new home with her new husband in the wilderness of the west proves to be a revelation. Moyra is determined to grasp every aspect of her new life; especially the passion that continues to build between her and Gaetan. Can she win the heart of a man who can’t seem to stop running from his troubled past? EVERY TIME YOU GO AWAY is an awesome story. Moyra is a woman of boundless courage and strength. She has no trouble taking life by the horns and making the best of every situation. Gaetan’s struggle with the ill-placed guilt of his troubled childhood tore my heart apart. Ms. Asbury shows her readers the real hardships of living in the untamed west. The battle between nature and man can be fierce. With the stroke of her magic keyboard and gifted imagination, Eve Asbury once again presents her readers with a story that is truly a winner.

By Romance Junkies Reviewer: Briana Burress

Romance Junkies Content Editor: Staci
Romance Junkies Publishing Editor: Chrissy

© Refuge from the Storm Liana Bellingham has spent her lifetime cleaning up her father’s messes. This time it has cost her a marriage. She has been sold to a man she does not know nor does she want to know him. Not only is she enraged at her father, she is livid to learn her new husband, Raiden de Louve, is on the same ship she is on and in the middle of the ocean. When a furious storm rolls in, she finds herself stuck in the same room as him and the ship is going down. Waking to find she has been floating in the ocean, she is horrified to feel something latch onto her leg. Stuck between being relieved at not being alone and frustrated to be marooned with Raiden, she is left with emotions that she is unsure how to handle. With only the two of them around, they are given the opportunity to explore and work through emotions, confusion, and their pasts. Will there be a future for Liana and Raiden?

Gayle Eden has written a beauty of a short story that offers readers an insightful glimpse into each character’s personality and past. Raiden is a man that could have anything, yet the one that he wants does not desire him. He struggles to deal with winning her over while allowing her space to find herself. Liana must come to terms with what her father has done to her and realize that she is the only one that can ensure her happiness. The touching and rewarding passion that Raiden shows Liana leaves her breathless and emotionally overwhelmed. Raiden is a compassionate man sure to impress any reader. This story was a wonderful and delightful contemporary romance that I will recommend to others for a long time. It offers a combination of characters and romance that engross the readers and leaves them glued to their seat until the storm has run it course. Refuge from the Storm is a must for anyone looking for a heartfelt, passionate story of going after what you want and fighting for it once you get it. Gayle Eden has done a tremendous job and earned 5 Angels! FAR

Reviewed by: Jessica

©Whispers in the Dark Roger, Earl of Whyth, wants Joan Lecrox with a fiery passion the hardened rake hasn’t felt before; however, she will have nothing to do with him. Joan is only in London for the season to please her Uncle Willy. She wants nothing to do with the gossiping ladies of the Ton, nor is she planning to find a husband. Against her will though, her desire and ardor for Roger grows. At first, all she saw was the rake, the man who seduced women with little thought for their feelings. Joan comes to realize that Roger is merely playing the role society has allotted him. Nobody seems to see the vulnerable man beneath his façade; nor do they see that he is a man very deserving of love.

Roger is alarmed at his growing feelings for Joan. Though he has wanted her from the moment he laid eyes on her, as he gets to know her both intimately and personally, he realizes that she is a woman he could easily lose his heart to. Their affair blossoms as the season goes on, but will the end of the season signify the end of their relationship, or can Roger convince Joan that what they feel for each other is too precious to let go?

Whispers in the Dark is a phenomenal read from Gayle Eden. Fans of historical romances will not be let down by this intense love story. Roger and Joan start off as the stock characters one expects in any Regency romance, the faithless rake and the shy maiden. Yet, as the story unfolds, Roger and Joan become three dimensional, endearing, and very realistic characters with quirks, tempers, habits, and foibles all their own. Joan stands out because she is the very opposite of what one expects in a Regency miss. She is brave, cynical about love and the Ton, and would rather spend the day in her country home riding her horse or chatting with her hired help. Roger seems to be the perfect caricature of a cad, but this is an affectation he puts on for the reader and for Joan. As he comes to trust and care for Joan, he lets her into his heart and lets her know who he really is; a man who loves adventure, who likes collecting rare treasures, and enjoys renovating Black Cross, the abbey he has recently purchased. Roger loves hard and plays hard, but he also longs for the simple things in life, though he’s afraid to give voice to those dreams.

Exciting characters, an exhilarating romance, interesting characterizations, and snappy dialogue make Whispers in the Dark a fantastic read for every historical romance fan. Roger and Joan’s story will have you hooked from beginning to end.

©Reviewed by: Sarah W FAR Title Refuge From the Storm Author Gayle Eden Rating 4.5 stars Sensuality Rating sensuous Buy It Teaser A realistic novel, Refuge From the Storm is absolutely fantastic. Review All her life Liana Bellingham has been a pawn in her father's schemes. With money an issue, he arranged a marriage at 15 to an older man. When her husband died, her father continued to try and use her but she was successful in circumventing this, at least until now. On board a ship sailing to a new life, Liana is once again bargained by her father and married off by proxy. Not wanting anything to do with her new husband, Raiden de Louve, she refuses to acknowledge the marriage. This is hard to do as the storm they are experiencing intensifies. With the ship foundering, Liana find herself dependent on Raiden for her very life. Shipwrecked on an island is not her idea of fun but shipwrecked with Raiden? There may some merit in it, especially when she begins to feel some stirrings for the first time in her life. Is there hope for this marriage after all? Raiden de Louve was a very intriguing hero. He had a strange background , making him even more romantic. Liana was quite believable as someone tired of being used by the men in her life. Her reluctance to accept Raiden was quite understandable. As the two fall for each other, it was beautiful to read. A realistic novel, Refuge From the Storm is absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend it. Elise http://www.ecataromance.com/248-reviews?type=&id=397 http://theromancestudio.com/review_results.php ©http://www.simegen.com/reviews/list/30614.html

Reviewed by Shelly Campbell
©http://fallenangelreviews.com/RR-Past.shtml
FAR's Recommended Reads

2006

http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/historical/Worth_The_Risk_5409.shtml

©ROMANCE JUNKIES BLUE RIBBON REVIEWS

Nicholas “Nic” Balfour Montague is a rake that was born into the life with all the privileges that life has to offer until his mother was hanged for treason. He is now exiled from England after everything was turned back to the crown. Nic and his faithful valet, Gaston have been living in a run down tenement amongst the gutters of New York trying to make it on the last of their money. Gaston persuades Nic to board the train to Nebraska where business seems to be booming and there is a chance for a new life. But, their trip takes a sudden turn when they step off the train in Nebraska to the bad hospitality from the sheriff and some of townsfolk, ending up in jail.

Since her parent’s death, Josie Sullivan has been running Sullivan Farms with the help of her younger sister and brother. When she goes into town to bail her brother, Brody out of jail, Josie ends up paying the bail for newcomers, Nic and Gaston also. They agree to help Jose out at the ranch to pay off their debt. Josie and her crew have their hands full trying to teach Nic and Gaston ranch work. Their hard work pays off as they become a very important part of the family and the town. Josie and Nic find themselves giving into the kind of passion that few ever experience only to have it tainted with his insecurities and the treachery of others. Josie discovers love is WORTH THE RISK when she takes a chance with the man who has stolen her heart and soul. I am a great fan of Eve Asbury and jumped at the chance to read another one of her wonderful stories. She brings to life the pain and hardships of ranching. Ms. Asbury shows the importance of family and one’s heritage. WORTH THE RISK is definitely a keeper. ECATA ROMANCE'S REVIEW OF WORTH THE RISK

©http://www.ecataromance.com/248-reviews?type=&id=872

AKA-D — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:20:48 CST

Note:
E review sites with archived reviews of Gayle Eden or Eve Asbury novels may wish to update their information (isbn) and covers of works published in 05-and 06 that are no longer in contract with those publishers. The legal copies of those works are re-issued through Air Castle bookstore or vendors you will find listed on www.evesromance.com. You can contact the author via the contact page at www.evesromance.com . Gayle~Eve would be happy to provide you with covers and updated information.
With the exception of novels with Whiskey creek, champagne books- Gayle Eden and Eve Asbury hold (all) exclusive rights to the works published through Air Castle. These works are filed with the LOC and protected by copyrights. Any established reviewer wishing to review works by this author can contact us to recieve arcs or the (free) published book to review. You may also use the contact pages avail at www.evesromance.com or the contact page for reviewers on Air Castle Bookstore.

http://www.aircastlebooks.com

©
http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/thefoxeden.htm
The Fox Gayle Eden
Historical romance
Avail at Air Castle Books whttp://www.aircastlebooks.com www.evesromance.com

It is sometime during the year 1800 and Blair Mitchell finds herself in a gambling hell belonging to the elusive Fox. She has come to ask for a loan to save the family farm. Her parents having died, leaving a debt to be paid and her brother has gone to work for the mill. She sees that the mill is slowly killing him and she must find a way to pay the mortgage. She had considered turning to the world's oldest profession but as a virgin she would be placed up for auction and offered up to all types of perversions. She decided it would be easier to sell her virginity to The Fox if he was willing to give her the loan in exchange. Gabriel also known as 'The Fox,' has become bored with life. When a woman dressed as a boy comes asking for a loan he initially thinks to turn her away. He reconsiders as he listens to the story. She is not the prettiest woman but she is innocent and honest and he sees that as a novelty. When she offers herself up as his mistress in exchange for the loan, he sees a deal he just can't refuse. He is set to spend a pleasurable night in her company and send her on her way after paying her debt. Things don't go quite as he plans for hearts and emotions become involved. The Fox by Gayle Eden is an enjoyable romance with interesting characters. Gabriel lives life the only way he knows how. Life has made him very jaded. I believe that is why when Blair comes to him, he falls so quickly. Blair may be an innocent when it comes to sex but she did grow up on a farm. The chemistry between these two is totally electrifying. The passion explodes in the scenes between these two. The sex is described in exciting graphic details. The villain in our story is the person holding the mortgage. I would have like to have seen him interact a little more in the story. I think this would have added a needed sense of desperation, explaining why Blair would go so far to see the debt paid. The dialogue flows smoothly and conveys the thoughts and emotions of the characters. The historical setting is shown through means of transportation and clothing, as well as the culture of the time. The setting is made to feel real and is easily visualized through Gayle Eden's descriptive writing. My favorite thing about the book is the history of Gabriel's parents and a gift of a poem. The poem brought tears to my eyes. This was an erotic romance that offered more by adding an emotional aspect that I found truly enjoyable. I feel that readers will enjoy all that is offered in reading, The Fox by Gayle Eden. Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit Reviewer: Anita
July 11, 2006

THE ROAD TO ROMANCE REVIEWS ROCK MY WORLD BY GAYLE EDEN Raelyn Kendall is contacted to return home to her family’s ranch, Cougar Enterprises, to see her injured twin brother Ty, a cowboy, who recently broke both legs after a bull riding accident. Raelynn is a rock/blues singer. She feels she is a failure and has had her share of losses and disappointments. She and her brother hadn’t been home in 8 years because they had a bad relationship with their father Alan after their mother died. Raelyn is uneasy about returning home because she fears her father will throw her failure in her face. Her father Alan is old and sick now after having several strokes. Jackie Bristow, cousin and friend, has been running the family business for Uncle Alan for quite some time. Hud McKabe still works with Alan, a cowboy Raelyn has known for years who is also a close friend of Ty’s. Raelyn and Hud are drawn to each other but can’t stand to be around each other. There is a fiery passion building between the two of them.

The story of Raelyn and Hud is very erotic but takes some time to build because of all the walls surrounding Raelyn. Raelyn’s experiences with men have been disappointing so she is also afraid of a man like Hud. She doesn’t know what to expect with a real caring man. This story focuses on coming home, mending broken fences and learning to make peace with those you love, and finding your destiny in life and love. Hud helps Raelyn along the way. There is such a sense of oneness about Raelyn and Hud that it makes this story really special. I loved this story. Reviewed by Ellen Bunch for The Road to Romance May 16, 2006

http://www.roadtoromance.ca/reviews0606/reviewrockmyworld.htm

ROMANCE DIVAS REVIEWS ROCK MY WORLD ©
www.romancedivas.com/bookreviews_files/RockMyWorld-Eden.pdf

theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/thefoxeden.htm
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©http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/October2005/Jessica-RefugeFromTheStorm.htmRefuge from the Storm
http://www.aircastlebooks.com

Liana Bellingham has spent her lifetime cleaning up her father’s messes. This time it has cost her a marriage. She has been sold to a man she does not know nor does she want to know him. Not only is she enraged at her father, she is livid to learn her new husband, Raiden de Louve, is on the same ship she is on and in the middle of the ocean. When a furious storm rolls in, she finds herself stuck in the same room as him and the ship is going down. Waking to find she has been floating in the ocean, she is horrified to feel something latch onto her leg. Stuck between being relieved at not being alone and frustrated to be marooned with Raiden, she is left with emotions that she is unsure how to handle. With only the two of them around, they are given the opportunity to explore and work through emotions, confusion, and their pasts. Will there be a future for Liana and Raiden?

Gayle Eden has written a beauty of a short story that offers readers an insightful glimpse into each character’s personality and past. Raiden is a man that could have anything, yet the one that he wants does not desire him. He struggles to deal with winning her over while allowing her space to find herself. Liana must come to terms with what her father has done to her and realize that she is the only one that can ensure her happiness. The touching and rewarding passion that Raiden shows Liana leaves her breathless and emotionally overwhelmed. Raiden is a compassionate man sure to impress any reader. This story was a wonderful and delightful contemporary romance that I will recommend to others for a long time. It offers a combination of characters and romance that engross the readers and leaves them glued to their seat until the storm has run it course. Refuge from the Storm is a must for anyone looking for a heartfelt, passionate story of going after what you want and fighting for it once you get it. Gayle Eden has done a tremendous job and earned 5 Angels!

Reviewed by: Jessica ©

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http://www.aromancereview.com/reviews/index.php?app_state=show_event&bookid=8024

©A ROMACE REVIEW WWW.AROMANCEREVIEW.COM

Raelyn isn’t happy
about going home, but she doesn’t have a choice. Her twin brother, Ty, is back home recovering from a rodeo accident and she has run out of the last of her money. She doesn’t want and hasn’t in the last couple of years the money set aside by her father.

Raelyn has a big chip on her shoulder towards her father and the ranch where they grew up. She and her brother didn’t see eye to eye with their father and left as soon as they could, each going their separate ways. She always wanted to make it big in the singing industry, but a few bad choices along the way, she had never made it big. Now to her she is crawling back to the last place she ever wanted to be again, Cougar Ranch.

To Raelyn, Hud McKabe her daddy’s right hand man is still like he was all those years ago. He was silent and didn’t miss much going on around him. It seems the crush that she had on him over eight years ago didn’t go away. It flares up hot and heavy when they meet again.

Hud is the quiet and silent type but doesn’t miss much especially where Raelyn is concerned. It also doesn’t help the two of them that they are sharing the guesthouse, granted, it is big and has several bedrooms and enough room to avoid someone if wanted or needed too.

Rock My World isn’t just about Raelyn and Hud. The question is can Raelyn learn to forgive and move forward. But it is the struggle along the way to find oneself, to discover that time can change people and that all along they might have just had your best interest at heart and didn’t want to see you struggle.

Ms. Eden gave us a story full of twists, turns and bumps. The secondary characters help play a minor role of moving the story along. It also gives several of the characters a second chance at their own happiness. Now if they take the chance given to them and of course they get some help from Raelyn. The second chances are also not just for the secondary characters but also for Raelyn and Hud and maybe just making their wishes come true.

Reviewed in June 2006 by Pam.

Worth the Risk, avail at Alinar publishing and fictionwise www.alinarpublishing.com

http://www.ecataromance.com/248-reviews?type=&id=872 ©
Worth the Risk Author Eve Asbury
Category historical Rating 4.5 stars
Sensuality Rating sizzling
Buy It http://www.cataurl.com/dHGAa
Teaser
Review
Josie Sullivan is a hard working businesswoman in the west during a time when a woman without a man is considered helpless. She does everything she can to keep the family together and provide for them. Helping two fancy greenhorn strangers may just be more trouble than it is worth.
Lord Nicolas Balfour Montague is jaded, cynical, spoiled and penniless thanks to his family. Now only Nicolas Balfour, worthless green horn; he finds that he can do nothing to suit or impress Miss Josie Sullivan. But then why should he care?
Worth the Risk by Eve Asbury will have you laughing out loud, clapping with glee and doing happy dances of joy. Nicolas Balfour is a gorgeous man in need of a purpose and love. Josie is a strong frontier woman with grit, blunt ways and lots of love for family and friends. Josie's family and friends fill the pages with warmth and wisdom. Though it often feels like these secondary characters are taking the reader on a long tangent; you discover that their trials and triumphs deepen your understanding of Nicolas and Josie and teach these two about themselves. The love scenes are sparse; but the sexual tension is thick enough to cut and server on a platter and is well maintained through out the entire book. Ms. Asbury has done a magnificent job of creating characters whose heads you can slip into and "live" their story right along with them. This is one of the most beautiful stories I have read in quite some time. Give yourself a delightful treat by spending the day with this treasure.

©Reviewer : Keely Skillman
Posted February 2, 2006
ECATA ROMANCE

One Hot Summer ISBN 1-59374-545-1
Author Eve Asbury Page Count 269 pages
Publisher Whiskey Creek Press Price
Category suspense Rating 5 stars
Release Date February 1, 2006 Sensuality Rating sultry
Buy It www.whiskeycreekpress.com
Teaser
Review
When Charlie Aldrich Thornton comes back into town, she knows that she will never live down the scandal her dead father caused, nor will anyone in town let her forget, especially Beau Jessup, whose father was set up by Charlie's father and imprisoned. Charlie has come back to rebuild her life after her marriage falls apart and also to be closer to her brother. But sparks are about to fly between Beau and Charlie because hidden beneath their cordial liaison is a smoldering passion that is about to come to life. But it seems that danger hides in the shadows because someone does not want them to find any happiness or a lasting relationship. Can they make their relationship work? Or will the past keep them apart forever?
One Hot Summer gives you a fantastic contemporary romance while at the same time providing those hostage to the past a way embrace their future. Charlie has been running from everything in her life since the death of her father and has finally come home to rebuild and take charge of her life. And one of the people she has to face is Beau Jessup, her childhood crush and one of the families her father destroyed in his quest for power. Charlie and Beau discover an attraction between them but when they try to put their past behind them and look to the future they find it is not going to be easy at all, especially when there are people hoping to exploit and destroy their relationship. This book made me think of courage because Charlie stood tall in the face of opposition, to take charge and make the future she wanted but she also showed that love is a powerful emotion as it overcomes adversity and criticism. I know that I cannot wait to revisit this world that Eve Asbury has created and the fantastic characters that stir not only hope but also faith, that anyone can overcome the sins of their parents to make a bright future for themselves and the ones they love.
Eve Asbury
www.evesromance.com
©Reviewer Sheryl
Posted January 28, 2006

Rock My World Author Gayle Eden Page Category contemporary Rating 4 stars
Sensuality Rating sultry
Buy It http://www.cataurl.com/rjkdX
Teaser
Review
Summoned home after her brother injured in an accident Raelyn Kendall wanted to return a successful singer but over the years she has been gone nothing has gone right. Appearing tough as nails on the outside, no one could guess the emotions that swirl inside Raelyn, emotions of failure. But going home may turn out to be the best thing that has ever happened to her because the instant attraction between Hud McKabe and herself could become the thing that dreams are made of. Will Raelyn discover exactly what she wants from life before it drifts away?
A contemporary romance, Rock My World by Gayle Eden is an emotion filled story that is all heart. I enjoyed reading this book because it has everything and also delivers one intriguing story. I loved Raelyn because she dared to take on the world even after everything that happened, she still was willing to return home, as she saw it, a failure. Raelyn won my admiration because she tried to make something on her own, entirely against the wishes of her father. The romance between her and Hud was totally enjoyable, I loved their tentative but wholly enticing relationship. These two were meant to be together, they not only suited each other but also complemented one another. If there was anything I didn't like about the book was that it ended, I just wanted Rock My World to keep going but then all good things must come to an end.
Gayle Eden aka Eve Asbury
www.evesromance.com

Reviewer Sheryl
Posted March 28, 2006
Ecata romance reviews

Author Gayle Eden
Category historical Rating 4.5 stars ©

Teaser A realistic novel, Refuge From the Storm is absolutely fantastic.
Review
All her life Liana Bellingham has been a pawn in her father's schemes. With money an issue, he arranged a marriage at 15 to an older man. When her husband died, her father continued to try and use her but she was successful in circumventing this, at least until now. On board a ship sailing to a new life, Liana is once again bargained by her father and married off by proxy. Not wanting anything to do with her new husband, Raiden de Louve, she refuses to acknowledge the marriage. This is hard to do as the storm they are experiencing intensifies. With the ship foundering, Liana find herself dependent on Raiden for her very life. Shipwrecked on an island is not her idea of fun but shipwrecked with Raiden? There may some merit in it, especially when she begins to feel some stirrings for the first time in her life. Is there hope for this marriage after all?

Raiden de Louve was a very intriguing hero. He had a strange background , making him even more romantic. Liana was quite believable as someone tired of being used by the men in her life. Her reluctance to accept Raiden was quite understandable. As the two fall for each other, it was beautiful to read. A realistic novel, Refuge From the Storm is absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend it.
Elise
eCataRomance Reviews
Reviewer Elise
Posted September 26, 2005
LOVES ROMANCES REVIEWS REFUGE FROM THE STORM BY GAYLE EDEN
http://www.loveromances.com/refugefromthestorm_dawn.html
When Liana finds out her father lost her to pay his gambling debts, she blows a gasket. What makes it worse she is married to the man who won her!!!! Now on her way to the tropics with her father, she encounters her new "husband" and vows to never submit to this man. Baron Raiden de Louvre wanted Liana with a passion that consumes him and if the only way to have her is to win her in a game of chance then so be it. What these two strong willed persons do not anticipate is a sudden storm that forces them to flee the storm and ending up on an island. Within the tropical setting, Raiden woos Liana to be his lover, friend and wife in all ways but will Liana let her heart go to Raiden? Or will she lose the chance to see how love can be between two remarkable people? Read Refuge from the storm and see what happens between Raiden and Liana.

Ms. Eden is a delight to read in this wonderful quickie. Her storyline is centered on the strong willed Liana, bent on steering her own course in life and Raiden who loves her and is bent on having her no matter what. Strong willed, multidimensional, these are two dominant characters that will literally stand out amid the pages of Refuge from the storm. By creating these two, Ms. Eden crafts a story amid the lush setting of the tropics and will have the reader thinking they are on the beach with Raiden and Liana. The plot is a little weak on how these two met the first time and such but eventually they come out. This reviewer would have loved to know more of their back story but as a quickie story, the details given worked just as good.

The flow of the book was quite fast and easily captivates the reader from beginning to end. Me. Eden is a wonderful storyteller that weaves a sensual spell amid this storyline. She is truly a wonderful author to keep an eye on in the months to come!! Refuge from the storm is a mesmerizing tale that will keep the reader entertained from beginning to end and will leave the reader breathless with the sensual and passionate love scenes. If you love a historical romance full of complex and interesting characters, lush settings and a plot that leaves you breathless, read Refuge from the storm and see what the sea will cast up next for the reader!!
Reviewed by Dawn ©
October 2005

JOYFULLY REVIEWED http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/RRs/June07RR/ATasteOfTemptation.GE.html
Although Abigail is on the verge of being too old to come out to the London ton, she takes the opportunity to be a debutante. Having grown up with her eccentric aunt who never thought about marriage or anything of the like, when her aunt’s friend makes the suggestion, Abby decides it might be fun to see what life among the ton is like. When she arrives at the house of a friend’s nephew, who will sponsor Abby during the season, the notorious rakehell Simon Berrenger is in attendance. Just one glance and Abby decides to make it her goal to catch the man who thinks that for anything other than sex, woman are useless.
Simon is no fool to the games the women of the ton play to snare a man. With his new title, he’s considered quite the catch, but there’s no way in hell wedding bells will ring for him. Other than to use them for sex, women were useless to him. Once his desires were sated, there was no need to associate with any woman other than his cousin. But when he meets Abby, he can’t help but be interested by the beautiful woman and her blunt, unorthodox ways. But will he let go of the past to save the future he might have?
A Taste of Temptation is most definitely the best book I have read since I don’t know when. I sat for three hours reading it in its entirely, refusing to stop reading even to take a potty break I was that enthralled. Any Judith McNaught fans will definitely love this book, as it is very reminiscent of her writing. Each and every character in the book was wonderfully created and I loved the way that the story didn’t just focus on Abby and Simon, but had a little background story of Kendyl and Damien as well. The suspense was perfect—not too much to get you annoyed and wanting the author to “get on with it,” but the perfect amount to keep you hooked. The chemistry and passion between Abby and Simon was so tangible, and anytime they were together I could definitely feel the heat! This book is going in my pile to be read over and over and over again.
Reviewed by Tera
©GOTTA WRITE NETWORK
http://www.gottawritenetwork.com/ATasteOfTemptation.html
http://www.gottawritenetwork.com/ATasteOfTemptation.html

http://www.loveromances.com/herwayhome_dawn.html

http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/historical/Every_Time_You_Go_Away_6150.shtml

http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/suspense/One_Hot_Summer_5468.shtml

http://www.romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/historical/Worth_The_Risk_5409.shtml

AKA-D — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:23:55 CDT

Romancing the Blog (Readers and Romance authors Blog
http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/

Writer Beware (The pitfalls of the Industry and plain old wisdom)
http://accrispin.blogspot.com/

Paperback writer (author- writerly blog- look around there is a lot here)
http://pbackwriter.blogspot.com/

More to come

AKA-D — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:42:17 CDT

©
WCP (whiskey creek series) Dec 07 the thrid and final book Falling for you.

WHISKEY CREEK WILL RELEASE THIS TRIO IN ONE PAPERBACK BOOK SOON, LOOK FOR IT AT WHISEKY CREEK PRESS.

Whispers in the Dark avail
Imagine Me -E book
Clandestine-
Undeniable- Winter Heart
The Christmas Ball
The Bequest- single title western
Her Way Home-single title Romance
For a complete list of Eve Asbury, Gayle Eden books, go to http://www.evesromance.com/documents/84.html
and http://www.evesromance.com/documents/85.html

Refuge from the storm -

Watch for paperback releases at www.evesromance.com
from the new bookstore Air Castle Books

Avail at Whiskey creek press.
Southern Moon- whiskey creek press
One Hot Summer- whiskey creek press
Book 3 out in Dec 07 Falling for you.

Fall from Grace-Champagne Books

Worth The Risk- Bring on the Rain-
Rock my world- New Books
All I want for Christmas is you
Under the mistletoe
Home for christmas
Avail n bundle format on Amazon Kindle
Snowbound is avail at Air castle books, see www.evesromace.com for links

The SITE store, Air castle books, will also feature never before released e books .

All I want for Christmas is you holds Fictionwise best seller list through chirstmas, and top 15 through Feb. A taste of Temptation once again hit FW best seller, and Bring on the Rain, Highest rated (romance) 07

Free reads are posted on my website. and on my yahoo.
With the exception of (5) novels, 3 with whiskey creek, 1 with champagne books, and 1 with DD, Gayle Eden -Eve Asbury holds (all) exclusive rights to all works under that name. They are protected and filed with the LOC. Archived reviews of books that are re-issued by the author through the indy STORE AIR CASTLE, may have the old publisher listed with the review on those E review sites from 05 up til 07. Those out of contract novels have different covers which can be seen on www.evesromance.com, and are the only legal copies of those works for sale. Anyone interested in doing new reviews, updating their reviews of those works, or reviewing new Gayle/Eve works, please use the contact pages avail at www.evesromance.com or when approprate, the contact avail publishing website. Gayle~Eve would be happy to update your information (Isbn's and so on)

AKA-D — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:13:47 CST

These are sites I have used both before I published years ago, and afterward. I had all of this listed on my old website, but lost those pages during one of the face lifts there. There are many informative and helpful places on line for writers to educate themselves before they get into the business of writing. I would encourage taking the advice of places who have well researched facts and or articulate, well presented Q and A's. also, if you're thinking of being Indy, I found it better to establish myself first with known publishers and build up (earn) my readership. I still am with publishers. But once you've dealt with contracts and had both good and bad experience- (which is usually how we learn, isn't it, lol) then you will know more about what you want for your work, and how best to serve the readers who enjoy it. P and E and Piers Anthony were helpful to me, to a point. But once you're in contract, have fulfilled your end, all sorts of things can change, and that's rarely addressed on these sites. The more you know however, the better armed you are when dealing with (surprises) after you've fulfilled contract obligations. One place, somewhat helpful was here. However if you can retain a lawyer, and few authors can, that is always the best situation. Writer Beware has a link section on legal help for writers, free or low charging.
Hard working authors, serious ones, are always working to hone their craft, so Ive used the second half here for that section alone. But be informed and be careful out there, and also, most of all, love and enjoy writing.

RWA

Writer Beware POD info copyright info INternet crime and here

Advice of all sorts

National writers union Contract advice More contract advice Royalty statement advice here too.

Writer's weekly Writer's weekly and deadbeats

Indy publishing/small publishing/epubs Indy info, ISBNs Royalties UK copyright

More for indy writers The author's guild E-pub info still more... lists P and E

Agents More Safe agent searches

Email copyright, fair use and so on Copyright myths US LOC

Writers with resource links

Burning void SFWA Rejection collection

Advice on writing

Here Holly's site Sue Grafton Stephan King John Scalzi CJ Chrryh

Sharp writer. com Writing corner

Paperback writer< there's a lot more good stuff here. Check out her, "how I write novels"

More than you'll ever need to know about writing can be found through a bunch of useful links, here everything from POV/the craft, to the business side and research.

Other links- I'll get to these soon.

Now that you are a published author.

Building your website

Book promo

Revie sites

Your public persona and blogs

laws and free speech on blogs here and here

Groups and readers

Remembering why you write and love it.

AKA-D — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:25:59 CST

©
purchase link at www.evsromance.com

Copyright © 2007 Eve Asbury
Summary....
Two warring sisters, each desperate to have their dream at any cost, and two lone wolf half bloods with no ties to anything save their horse and gun, are about to collide in an unforgiving time of violence and passion, testing their preconceived notions about each other— and living out the truths, that the price of dreams is sometimes paid in heartache. But The bonds that form, as they take on each other and the enemy, becomes The Brand that sears them all together, bone deep and everlasting.

Two sisters grew up in separate worlds, each surviving through an ambition
to overcome the realities, loneliness, and the stigma of being fathered
by one of the cruelest men to have ever been born.
Jaci Brodi put her sweat, blood, and tears into the circle B. Under her father she’d been used, abused and mocked— had her virtue erased during a wager between her father and fancy Hotel builder Matt Stewart— in her foolish infatuation with only man who’d ever treated her like a female. There wasn’t a hand within miles who would work the circle B spread, and there wasn’t a person who cared if Jaci Brodi felt their contempt and mockery. But with the death of her father comes the chance to build the ranch into something she's always dreamed of. However, Jaci need's her sister LeAnn's help, and when the beautiful eastern, woman arrives, she hates Kansas, hates Jaci and has her head full of her own ambitions —all centered on Jaci buying her half of the ranch.
Jaci had already put into action the plan to dig the circle B out of a hole. Two years is what she asks of LeAnn, two years to make the ranch profitable, and then they'd both have what they want. The Circle B's neighbors, a family of ruthless men, with ties to the banker holding the notes, have no intention of letting brand flourish. Yet Jaci has staked literally everything on Hawk Maddux, one of the best hired guns in the west. If he can find a crew to bring a fresh herd from Texas- and keep Norwood's outlaws from again rustling her stock, the circle B might stand a chance.
Hawk Maddux and his friend Raven are half bloods who have survived by their courage wits and skill.
Hawk needs Raven to assemble a crew of something more than ordinary cowhands, to assure the circle B's stock reach Kansas. Having spent a few years apart, he find's his friend once again having turned to whiskey, to blot out his own torturous memories and loss of all he’d held dear. Yet Hawk knows no man can do the job like Raven—and there is none that Hawk would put his faith in when came to crew or cattle. He believes this tough woman rancher is worth risking their lives for. As Hawk tells Raven, "There is something about those who aren't supposed to win, beating those who always do." And even before meeting her in the flesh, he takes the job and convinces Raven to do the same. Not only for Jaci, but to save Raven's own life from darkness.

The right of Eve Asbury to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988. First print Edition 2007 All characters in this publication are purely fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

©

Gayle Eden

Purchase link at www.evesromance.com

Chapter 1

“Who the hell came up with this bright idea?” Jenna Merchant grated into the cell phone.
“Your brother, Marc. He’s decided to zip off to Madrid and do that story for Exo`tiq Magazine. He said to tell you that all the plans were in place. It would just be you doing the photography instead…”
“Dammit, Risa. I no longer work for my egomaniac brother. I’m an independent photographer.”
“Can you hear me wincing? “Risa laughed. “I know it, hon. but the guy has paid in advance for it…which Marc has put in your account.”
“Of all the…Jesus Christ. I moved to get away from him and he still thinks the world revolves around Marc Merchant and his Pulitzer Prize.”
“An ego he has. But look, it’s a big chunk of change, and you’ve never done anything remotely like this, so think of it as a challenge.”
Jenna walked to the window of her upscale apartment. “I’ve never done it because I have no desire to. And challenge to me is getting a spot at a four star restaurant so I can rub elbows with movie stars. Christ, it figures he would go to Madrid after doing this, he knew I wouldn’t agree.”
“There’s not much choice now, Jen. The guy has everything set and there’s only two days left.”
“Shit…shit...Shit…” Jenna scraped her blond curls off her forehead. “I have a really good spot near the red carpet. I want to take pictures of Johnny Depp, not some freaking hermit named Buck Rogers.”
“Buck Spence. And you’re not photographing him. It’s for Pine Lake Resorts, they’ve sectioned off this wildlife thing and…”
“Spence. Spence. Where have I heard that name?” Jenna paced back to the bar and went around to the mini fridge to fix a water and lime. “I’ve heard that name.”
“I’ve got a call Jen. You need to be on the flight to Washington.”
“D.C.?”
“No, the state. Look, it’s the middle of winter, so take your cell. If anything gets canceled, rent something and charge it to Marc. I’ve really got to rush.”
“Wait, Risa, is this dude meeting me there?”
“Oh, shit, I forgot. No, you have a connecting flight and will likely cross paths in Denver. He had planned on driving the last leg. Don’t ask. It’s a guy thing I guess. You could probably fly into Washington, but it’s peak season and too late to make changes in flights. You don’t want to be stuck in an airport somewhere. But I’ll call ahead and make sure they have the rental waiting at the airport. They’re forecasting a foot of snow or something.”
“Right.” Jenna clicked off, looking at the bright LA sun. She didn’t like the cold. She didn’t like the outdoors—unless it was a beach at sunset. And she didn’t want to go anywhere she couldn’t buy a latte within a block of her apartment.
“Damn you, Marc!” She padded over to her bright red sofa and flopped down, punching the number of a fellow photographer. She got the answering machine as she expected.
“Hey, Cal, this is Jen. It looks like you get my spot after all. My ass of a brother took it upon himself to send me to Siberia for two weeks. I’ll call…”
She made a few more quick calls and went to her bedroom, tugging off her short dress and thongs she’d worn that morning for a lunch date. Muttering she stepped in the shower, scrubbing her short blond hair and tanned body, more than just furious at Marc, because he really never got the message. The guy was smart, a genius, an ace reporter and a photographer, but he had everything else, too, looks, money, fame and a freaking ego that she couldn’t stand.
She was twenty-five years old. She wasn’t his adoring groupie or some worshipping fan. She’d had nineteen years of trying to hang around him and learn the business. And all she’d become was his little gofer and ass wipe.
Her parents, now deceased, were to blame, a politician and a TV talk show host, they’d passed onto Marc plenty of talent, but also a combination of their egos. Hell, she had taken one too many orders from him and split. He’d never given her the good assignments anyway. He’d just wanted her around to run his errands and watch him preen for the masses.
Five years she’d been in LA, her brother in New York. She’d sent cards, gifts on the right occasions, but she’d gone after her own success and got a pretty good reputation without him. Her shots were in some of the best publications, and she was known in the fashion and movie industry. She’d risen with the cream and snagged some of the most envied assignments this month a holiday month of charity galas and balls.
Now she had to cancel her prime spot on the red carpet because Marc the God of the universe obligated her.
If she had any kind of balls, she’d say screw him and let his shining rep get a bit of hell from screwing some guy over…
Jenna stepped out of the bath, wrapped in a towel and rubbed her hair. Buck Spence? Where had she heard that name? The phone rang. She picked it up on the bedside table, sitting on the edge.
“Jenna Merchant.”
“Hey, it’s Marc.”
“You asshole! You egocentric jerk.”
He laughed. “I knew you’d be a bit hesitant, but J—”
“Hesitant. Oh, no, that’s much too civilized. Much too much a Marc word. I am damned pissed off at you. I’m not doing some crummy shoot in some God-forsaken mountains with some…”
“It’ll make you famous, Jen. It’s a once in a lifetime deal. I grabbed it up for you, babe.”
“Screw you. Enjoy Madrid.” She hung up.
It rang again.
“Marc, do you know what fuc—”
“Is this Jenna Merchant?”
Jenna grimaced. “Yes. I’m sorry. I err…I thought you were someone else.”
“No problem. I’m Mr. Spence’s agent, and I just wanted to touch base with you, since we were informed on rather short notice that you’d be taking your brother’s place.”
“I have credentials.”
“Yes. We’ve looked into it, Ms Merchant. Since we did the run down with your brother’s secretary, I wanted to make sure you had been fully informed also.”
“I’m supposed to meet Mr. Spence in Denver, right?”
There was an irritated sigh on the other end. “I see we already have a problem. Ms. Merchant. I seriously doubt LA has them, but you’ll need appropriate clothing for colder weather and I… Do you have a fax machine?”
“Yes.”
“Please give me the number. I’ll fax everything to you since we’re short on time. Please make your flight, Ms. Merchant. Mr. Spence has gone to a lot of trouble and expense to plan this trip.”
She gave the number. The woman hung up and Jenna snarled at the phone. “Talk about anal…. Ms. Merchant.” She snorted and got dressed, drying her hair over the sound of the fax in the next room.
Dressed in white slacks and a silk tank she slipped her feet into flats and went to pick up the fax.
Jenna looked at the two pages of instructions.
“Oh, yeah, right.” She read down the list. “This is going to be a frigging nightmare.”

Two days and a flight later, Jenna was a walking zombie. She hated flying. She hated standing in lines. She hated wearing two layers of clothing, because when the plane landed, there was already a foot of snow and another six inches predicted.
Denver airport was crowded, the list of canceled flights growing and bodies laid out everywhere, listening to weather reports, and cursing anyone who would listen.
She pulled her luggage off the belt and wheeled around to get in line. Just as her heavy eyes adjusted, the canceled sign lit up. “Shit!” She got out of line, jostled and bumped, rudely cursed by people as pissed as she was.
She had to pee and she wanted a cup of real gourmet coffee. She looked out the glass wall and wanted to go home.
“Excuse me?” she stopped at row of chairs, a nice, safe looking, family. “Could you watch this for me? I need to use the restroom?”
A woman of forty, reading a magazine looked up and smiled. “Sure, honey.”
She parked the luggage and found the nearest restroom. Crowded with women and children. Getting a stall, she did her thing and stepped out, elbowing her way to the sink. Christ, she looked like shit. Her perfect make up was smudged around her dark aqua eyes. The sweatshirt, which was the closest thing to winter she could find, wasn’t a garment she’d call chic.
Jenna washed her hands, tried to repair her makeup and exited to collect her luggage.
“Have a nice flight,” the woman said.
“Thanks, it looks like I’ll be finding a hotel.” Jenna yanked the large suitcase and made her way through a mass of bodies and luggage. The noise level was deafening. She was looking for an information desk when her name came over the speakers.
“What now?” She went where she was directed and cocked her brow at a harried looking bald man.
“I’m Jenna Merchant.”
“Ms Merchant…” He punched a few keys on the computer. “A Mr. Buck Spence is outside with the rental vehicle.”
“Of course he is.” Jenna smiled thinly and wheeled back around. “Excuse me… excuse me...” She dodged and weaved her way toward the exit.
“It’s a blizzard out there!” someone called out, coming inside wearing a parka and carrying a radio. “All flights are grounded.”
She set the suitcase up and unzipped it, pulling the jacket she’d bought off the top and zipping it back. It was chic, suede, waist length—and the moment she stepped out, she knew she’d freeze her ass off in it.
Outside was as crazy as in; people were hailing cabs and trying to get to hotels since the flights were canceled. She grunted as a guy with a shoulder bag nearly knocked her down getting to the shuttle bus. A group of college girls slammed into her back talking on cell phones. Freezing, feeling the bite of wind to her bones and too thin air, she set her teeth and looked around, trying to spot the illusive Mr. Spence and having no idea whom to look for.
Snow blew in under the overhang and onto her non-waterproof boots. A gust of wind flipped her jacket open, making her nipples feel like they’d been frostbitten. That was it.
She was going to get on that bus, find a hotel, and head back to LA. Screw Marc, screw Buck Rogers or whatever the hell his name was. “Miss Merchant?”
Jenna turned around, her hand gripping the luggage that was being shoved by passing people. She tried to look through a solid wall of a lined buckskin jacket, denim shirt and faded Levi’s…and eventually had to look upwards. “Did you say my name?”
“Are you Jenna Merchant?”
Jenna nodded, trying not to stare at the brawny Guy... He had chestnut hair that was damp with snow and hugging his head to the nape, a rugged face with bedroom brown eyes, and reminded her of the brawny guy from TV commercials. TV…TV…It clicked in her brain. “You’re Buck Spence,” she said it dryly, vowing in the depths of her soul to murder her brother when she saw him again.
“Yes. Our rental is over here. There are problems with the highway. We might lose a day and have to find a hotel, if we can. I’d rather drive through, but if the passes are closed…”
Buck Spence, she hardly heard a word he spoke in that deep, smooth voice. Inside hysterical laughter was threatening to bubble up. Buck Spence the nature guy—the dances with wolves or something dude! O, jolly good Marc. Very funny. She’d once stood in Marc’s penthouse and said the guy needed to get laid and get a life. This guy—the big dude—in front of her.
Flashes went through her mind, Buck Spence was twenty-nine or thirty, had been in the Marine Corps and was wounded in battle, retreated to the mountains for several years and emerged as some sort of nature expert or survivalist.
Jenna had seen First Blood. Yep. She’d heard about those fanatics who lived in the mountains… So he was on TV, so what? So PBS let weird people do weird shows nobody watched…
“We’d better go before this gets worse.” Focus, Jenna, focus. “Did my brother ship his equipment ahead to the resort?”
“Cabin. Yeah, it came in by chopper.” His big hand moved hers from the handle and he headed off. She followed behind. The jacket was too long to check out his ass…but who needed to? His legs were big and round and long…he had shoulders that blocked the view for several feet… He wore some kind of complicated boots with straps across them. His feet were big, his hands were big, and he was big… Holy shit. She wasn’t going anywhere with this guy.
Jenna was so caught up in her thoughts that she ran into his back when he stopped. A soft oft sounded and her nose got a good whiff of leather, male, something warm and spicy.
“You okay?”
He’d looked over his shoulder, those chocolate eyes between stubby but thick lashes.
“Sure. Fine. Hey...um…Spence?”
“Buck.”
“Yeah, Buck?” She watched him open the door to a big SUV. “I think maybe, considering the weather, we should probably cancel.”
“You’re here to shoot the winter scenes. It’s the best time of the year for me to work.”
He held the door for her. “The weather will break soon.”
Jenna grit her teeth and got in, her eyes watching him walk around the front, walking like a man who knew he was bigger than everyone else was, head high, broad shoulders squared…or maybe that was the ex-marine in him.
He opened his door and slid in. She peeked again at his hand; no gloves and kind of rough like the rest of him. “If the roads are closed…” she tried again.
The engine turned. He did the wipers, but snow was falling in big flakes with every swipe. Traffic pulling from the curb was slow. “They’ll salt and plow. We may be delayed a day, but in these parts, they’re used to it.”
“But maybe it’s worse in Washington.”
He turned the full force of his gaze on her. Jenna thought it was one of the strongest faces she’d ever seen. Really, the man was carved from oak, and it was a little too overkill, waaay too much testosterone or something.
“Did we get our wires crossed somewhere or what?” he said it bluntly and evenly. “I paid twenty thousand dollars for a…”
“Twenty thousand…” she choked rather than squeal, as she’d been more inclined to.
“…professional outdoor photographer. Now I’m not hard to get along with. I gave Marc the information six months ago. I wasn’t real happy about the replacement.”
His eyes raked down her. “But the money has been paid and you’re here.”
Jenna tried not to blink under that steady look, and it was dead on kind of serious. Outdoor photographer? Hell. Her last outdoor shoot had been on Maui with eight people fighting to carry her camera bag.
She wet her lips. “Sure. I was just thinking of our safety.”
Somewhere she’d read it was better to humor these survival types, like they had some kind of hair trigger temper and went all postal and shit. Shit ...shit... shit…
Buck’s gaze held hers for a few steady moments, then he turned and put the vehicle in gear and pulled out, muttering something that sounded like damned city women.
Had it been any other man, her current sort of boyfriend for instance, she would have asked him what the hell he’d said. But the guy handling the steering wheel was also the one taking up most of the room in the front. She’d let it slide.
“Can we have some heat?”
He glanced at her, pulling out onto the main road. “Is that all you brought?”
“It’s kind of difficult to find winter coats in LA.”
His jaw flexed, he flicked the heater on—and then cracked his window.
She didn’t doubt his coat was warm and waterproof, a guy like that probably never got cold. In fact, that show Marc had flicked past, he’d been in Alaska.
The slam-slam of the wipers was the only sound over the hum of the engine. She crossed her arms for warmth and looked out at a depressingly white highway with stranded cars already lining up. They got behind a slow salt truck. The snowstorm was so bad it looked like night instead of morning.
She flicked her gaze to Buck as he leaned over and turned the radio on, scanning over music and finding the weather report. She sighed and listened to the predictions, six to eight inches by morning, and oh, joy, truckers and people who’d come for the holidays booked up most of the hotels. Christmas was two weeks away.
“How long until we reach a town?” She couldn’t see much but the salt truck and saltine size flakes.
“Miles? About forty, there’s an exit… But it doesn’t look good.”
She watched him turn the sound low. “What kind of project could anyone possibly plan in the mountains this time year? And why didn’t you just hire the same chopper…”
“They can’t fly in this, either.” He eased over when the truck left the lane. “Didn’t you read the schedule?”
“No.”
He glanced at her.
She met his gaze.
“So what’s the deal? Marc has a good reputation. If not, I’d think he was trying to screw me over.”
“Not at all.” God, she hated lying for Marc. “It was short notice and I had other shoots lined up, and with the holiday coming, I had to find replacements and take care of my business. I meant to read it on the plane.”
“But you didn’t?”
“Jesus. Don’t get all uptight. I know the camera. I’m good at what I do. I will read the stupid schedule at the hotel… If we make it there alive.”
He glanced back at the road. “Pine resort also has a wildlife sanctuary. They’ve had some problems with predators…wolves.”
“Yeah and?”
“I’m going there to tag the game and set up a system for registering the native packs. Sometimes it’s humans and not animals. They need a more sophisticated system for numbering the herds and…” he stopped and glanced at her. “You’re doing the ID photos.”
Jenna wanted to burst out laughing. But she resisted and looked away. Yeah, okay, like she was really going to traipse through snow and get near anywhere anything wilder than a puppy. NOT.

AKA-D — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:20:57 CST

Find purchase links for Eve Asbury~Gayle eden books at www.evesromance.com

The Hunting Grounds( Writing as B.D. Dillon) Mystery/fiction non romance
Copyright ã B.Dian Addair 2007-2008. All rights Reserved.

The Hunting Grounds

B.D. Dillon

CHAPTER ONE
B randi Gilliam stared at the sheet of company stationary. Johnny’s name stared back at her. The satisfied feeling she expected hadn’t surfaced yet and she’d been at work an hour already. Her kid brother Johnny died at age nineteen. Why was she suddenly unable to get him off her mind?
Day one at her new job. She’d made it down town, the sixteenth floor corporate headquarters, for one of the largest real estate companies in DC and Northern VA. Her section was on the top floor, between conference rooms, off the Vice Presidents plush workspace. On her left the elevator sighed open and closed unobtrusively. Expensive teal carpet lined the corridor, the desk, black lacquer, sat on section of real marble, situated in the lobby area, with the hallways leading to other offices flanking it. A wall of windows at her back, with mauve drapes, ending where the discreet convector wafted cool central air.
She was fielding calls for a C.E.O. for Christ sake. Only a person who’d worked low wage jobs for managers, with Napoleon complexes could understand the significance of that. Hell, she’d seen enough restrooms and dinky offices to last a lifetime, places where the elevator shuddered and rumbled like a freight train coming through the floor, and laminate desks were so dingy after five years she’d never got them clean. She’d had enough of managers in mid life crisis, screwing some guy on the cleaning crew. So where was her euphoria at having achieved her objective?
As one of hundreds of sophisticated, Washingtonians, walking around with a brief case and cell phone, carrying her morning cup of cappuccino. She’d gotten out of receptionist hell. She was dressed in a chic, black business suit. They called her ma’am here, instead of hey you!
Her gaze touched on the sleek flat screen monitor, humming with the newest software. Computer programs had been like cutting her teeth again, half her old employers had obsolete dinosaurs, where back up files meant, go get the paper ones out the rusted filing cabinet. But she’d learned how to make herself indispensable. She was out of the burbs now. Brandi heard a psst over the soft sounds of a Mozart sonata wafting through hidden speakers. Glancing up, she saw Angela Deloche waving her into the break room. She clicked on the answering machine to pick up calls for a few moments and headed her way.
When the door closed behind them, Ang whispered, “What’s up, you don’t look so happy for someone who’s landed their dream job.”
Purchasing a bottle of water from the vending machine, Brandi leaned her hips on the cafeteria style table. Ang was her neighbor, a transplanted country girl like herself, and the only one who knew something of her past. They carpooled to work together. She didn’t have to pretend with Ang, so she blurted, “I’ve been having nightmares…about Johnny.”
Ang’s blue eyes were instantly sympathetic. “Memorial Day,” she said understanding. “You should let go of this guilt, Brandi. You couldn’t have imagined he would die so young.”
“I left him there, Ang, in that hell. Not keeping in touch when he was alive was bad enough.” Brandi stared at her. “I was all he had, and I ran out…abandoned him.”
Ang shook her head. Her blond curls shifted against her shoulders. “You likely saved your own life getting away from your stepparents.” She stepped over to the snack vendor and dug some change out of the pocket of her tan slacks.
Brandi absently watched her eat a granola bar and brush crumb from her white silk blouse, while her mind drifted in a sudden flash back to the only call her step-mother had made to her before she died. In that horrible twang Shirley had said, “Johnny is dead. I just thought you’d want to know. We went ahead and buried him cause we know’d you wouldn’t bother coming back for a funeral.” The answering machine had beeped and Shirley Gilliam said, “Always had to be a little bitch about things. I guess you got snotty friends now that probably don’t know where you came from. Well, I’m not calling no more. Johnny’s dead, that’s all I called for.” “I was up most of the night,” Brandi confessed, “on line, trying to find out where he’s buried. Something is off. No one seems to have any information on him. Yesterday I talked to a Mr. Hopkins from the Vital statistics office, and he said they went two years back from 2000. There’s no record of it in Sullivan County. How can that be?”
Angel snorted. “Jesus, girl, you know how things work in those small towns. Someone overlooked it when they were uploading data. Happens all the time. It’s nothing to get freaked about.”
“No,” Brandi wanted her to understand how bizarre it was. “I can’t find the obit in the Kingsport Times archives. I can’t get a confirmation on his death from the office of vital statistics. I can’t even find him in the list of cemeteries. “Brandi moved away from the table and paced.” I know it sounds crazy, but I have to find him. I go to sleep, get up, and even dream about him. I haven’t done anything for days but stay on line and search.”
“You’re not thinking of going back there, are you?” Angela glanced at her with mingled worry and surprise.
“I don’t want to,” Brandi admitted “but today of all days, I should be on cloud nine. I’m not. All I can do is hope the day flies by so I can go home and finish.” Brandi crossed her arms tight and stared down at the toe of her expensive pumps. “I woke up feeling Johnny’s presence this morning.”
Ang’s brow rose. “It’s the stress. New job,
e—”
“God, Ang, I love you, you know that,” Brandi cut her off. “But you’d have to live like we did to understand how close we were, how much we depended on each other. When I feel him…I really feel him. I think he’s talking to me.”
“Okay.” Ang came over and touched her arm, looking closely at her face. “I believe you. I’m from Kentucky, remember. My grandma could raise hair on your arms telling prophecy. But I’ve known you awhile, and I know how you killed yourself working, and going to night class to get this job. I’m simply saying, its Decoration time back home, and maybe that along with the stress.”
Covering her hand Brandi gave her a short smile. “Sure. That’s likely it.”
Ang knew her. She could see that Brandi wasn’t sincere. She stepped back and offered, “I’ll come over after work. We’ll search together, okay?”
“No.” Dropping her arms, she leaned against the papered wall. She’d make Ang nuts going over and over the same lists, which is what Brandi admitted she’d be doing that evening. “I’ve looked through every available public record.” She said, “I’m just obsessing.”
Ang started to say something. Her gaze shifted as one the female exec’s walked in and smiled at them. On her way to the coffee machine, she crossed in front of them.
Brandi gave her a polite greeting, then glanced at Ang and shrugged. They couldn’t finish this conversation here.
Ang nodded, acknowledging her hint.
Back at her desk, she caught up on the calls and worked steady past lunch. One of the secretaries paused on her way to the elevator and invited her to a sports bar, where all the suits and pentagon crowd hung out. Brandi declined graciously; conscious she didn’t fit in with the BMW and Versace pack. The elevator hissed closed behind the woman.
Her brother would have, though. Johnny would have owned a company by now, not be panting to upload files and answer phones for one.
By the end of the workday she’d written his name a dozen more times on the sheet of company stationary. Her stomach was one tense knot. Ang and Brandi met their carpool group in the underground parking lot. Most people rode the metro. No one could afford parking in DC.
On the ride to the suburb of Alexandra, she felt Ang give her arm a pat, but Brandi was in her own world, hearing Johnny as she had all month. She laid her head back against the minivan seat and closed her eyes… and saw his face.
Arriving at Brook Stone, the fairly new high rises, squeezed between two sections of prefab townhouses, they waved off the van. The others were heading on to historic old town for dinner. Ang and she rode up on the elevator together. She always got that dipping sensation when riding an elevator, aware of the muffled clunk of passing floors and the vibration under her feet.
On the tenth floor, the doors opened. They shared a small laugh at the off key ding. Stepping out they smelled the overwhelming aroma of frying leeks and Mr. Krozner’s cigars.
“I’ll come by later and help you out,” Ang offered again, switching her briefcase and purse around to dig out keys.
Brandi said all the right things to assure her it wasn’t necessary, and was beginning to wish she’d kept her mouth shut anyway.
One of the tenants came out into the hall with a dog to walk. Ang waved at her, nodded and headed in the opposite direction. Brandi went into her apartment, six doors down, one of the smallest and so expensive she couldn’t afford much furniture. Locking the door behind her, she took off her jacket, glancing at the mess by the little computer desk, scraps of paper with phone numbers, bits of information on everything from candy wrappers to envelopes. There were three coffee cups and two water bottles, a chip bag with gum wrappers in it.
She headed for the only bedroom, a minuscule space containing her few boxes of possessions and an ugly salvage dresser, purchased at a yard sale. She changed into faded blue sweats and an Old Navy T-shirt. Eyeing the reflection in the mirror, which was propped against the stark white walls she grimaced, unaccustomed to the burgundy tint of her hair, the result of letting Ang drag her into a day spa for a makeover recently.
Her once brown hair was cut to her ears with long bangs, veddy French. She was too old for it. She’d said so, lost the argument. The image consultant assured her that being petite and trim, with only a few lines at the corner of her eyes, Brandi didn’t look thirty-two. Yes, it did occur to her, they got paid for saying things like that, plus a commission on all the stuff they load you down with. But being tense about the new job, also max’d out her credit card in boutiques she couldn’t pronounce, for a new work wardrobe.
After cleaning up the desk, back to the living room, Brandi put on coffee. A chipped freebee Christmas mug in hand, she sat at the computer and got back on-line to search cemeteries again. Maybe she missed something the first time? Someone had to have some information on her brother. It would be a stretch to believe that none of the places a person usually gathered information had anything.
Typing in the city page, Brandi scrolled down listings. It would take her all evening but she couldn’t sleep tonight if she didn’t try again.
There had been no mention of where he was buried that time Shirley had called. She was dead now—too late to ask her. Brandi had no idea where her stepfather was, being a trucker, the man could be anywhere. Not—that she wanted to talk to him again. For Johnny though, she would have.
She scribbled on her pad, (check funeral homes).
What Brandi did know, was that he’d been in college when he died. She recalled that from an invitation to an awards ceremony she’d received from him, and a few short notes he’d sent her about his classes. She hadn’t been hard to find, and knowing his knack for computers it was probably a kick for him to track her down. When she’d first bought her used computer he’d hacked into it. But she hadn’t gone home to see him, she’d had another new job with zero vacation days.
Eventually Brandi turned on a cheap desk lamp, fixed a tuna sandwich and opened a Diet Dr. Pepper. With her bare feet on the arm of the mission design futon, functioning as both sofa and her bed, she mentally sifted through her memories of Johnny.
She’d just known he’d be someone famous someday. A budding genius was Johnny boy, bright, with a mind that absorbed things like a sponge. While she’d been struggling to stay awake in school after her stepmother’s all night parties, Johnny had his head in some book. He won awards. His walls were covered with certificates from various teachers. He’d been fourteen when she ran off, just two years younger than herself, a tall lanky boy with a shock of silky brown hair and gray eyes like hers, handsome, two grades ahead of his peers, computer crazy. He loved chess. Brandi stank at it. He worked part time after school, and was athletic, ran track, played basketball. An incredible kid, considering the environment they lived in.
The contrast between them was glaring. She’d slipped further behind everyone else, skipped school to avoid getting called to the counselors office, ran with the wild crowd, hanging out by the tracks, partying in some barn—ended up screwing her life up.
Brandi grunted, well, she wasn’t going that far, though she had been forced to catch up after Rusty what’s-his-name divorced her, and ran off with an older woman, a hotel manager old enough to be his grandmother.
Brandi sighed and leaned her head back against the cushion. She’d been here sixteen years, the same number she’d lived in Tennessee. And she was already feeling burned out. The only person who related to her was Angel, the rest she knew were native city girls who thrived on nightclubs, one night stands, and living ninety miles an hour. They had money, or friends with money. She couldn’t keep up. Brandi could barely pay the rent and feed herself. She’d never been hip. They didn’t know her. They were people to just hang out with, a little more superficial than she could afford to be.
Having drifted into her own self-examination, and having no desire to—Brandi pulled herself in mentally, and tossed her soda can in the trash then went back to the computer, trying several sources, and spent two hours on an exasperating genealogical site and another one on a bunch of linked homepages of locals. Nothing.
“Piece of shit! I hate computers.” Brandi smacked the monitor. Damn, she was getting frustrated. She shoved back her chair and went to the bedroom, dumping out a box to find her old address book. There were precious few names. She’d gotten rid of any ties and buried any memories.
“Bingo!” Brandi muttered, holding her finger on the faded number. A soda can ring had nearly obliterated it from the page. Ida Lewis. She grabbed up the phone, dialing with her thumb while she flipped through the book. “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed has been disconnected.” Frowning at the phone, punching the number in again, putting sevens in for ones, just in case the soda rings had erased it. She got the same message.
“This is unbelievable.” Brandi threw the phone onto a bean bag chair and sat down on the futon, where her legal pad was laying with her pen. She wrote down on her already growing list Check to see if Aunt Ida is in the phone book. She tossed the pad aside, narrowing her eyes at the computer screen— feeling discouraged- yet compelled to keep searching.
“Johnny, where in the hell are you?”
The computer screen started blinking.
“Shit.” Her heart thudded. Brandi rushed over to it, clicking the mouse. A hint of a picture—then— the screen went blank. It wasn’t him. Was it? OK, it wasn’t. But she’d been dreaming lately, hearing his voice.
Maybe, she was having some sort of emotional melt down? Ang said these things happen to people who suppress memories. Sometimes, when they have reached a crossroads in their lives—the door just bursts open. Oh. Hell. She hoped not. Brandi muttered her opinion about psychoanalyzing in four letter words, walking back to the futon, seated again, writing in the pad, glancing over now and then. She’d put the computer on stand by. If only she’d written him back. Christ, she didn’t even know how he’d died. Guilt. No, something oppressive, always hovering, like a dark cloud. There was a gloomy space, the one she’d closed the door on when she’d left her dysfunctional youth behind. The cloud insisted on creeping out like a specter, every holiday, every birthday, it terrified her with its persistence, its intent. She didn’t know, but it was somehow... threatening. It stretched, opened into a bottomless void in her dreams. Then she would scream for Johnny until her own voice awakened her.
If she went back she’d relive it all again. But she had to admit it—something stronger than guilt was replacing the occasional nightmares.
She sat again circling his name, his presence, so strong Brandi could feel her scalp tighten. If she listened closely, she could almost hear him whisper.
Every day, the following week when her phone rang, like clockwork when Brandi picked it up, a voice called her name.

Friday night, Brandi was in bed, half asleep when the phone rang. She shot up against the headboard and fumbled to answer it. Her heart pounded in her ears. She’d been dreaming again...
“Hey girl, it’s Ang.”
Her heartbeat slowed to normal. From the noise in the background Angel was calling from her cell phone, at a dance club if the loud throbbing music was any hint.
“Wassup?”
“I got worried about you. How’s the hunting?”
“Nothing so far.” Brandi rubbed her eye. “I’ve got some more numbers to check.”
“You were pretty distracted at work this week?”
“I know. I called three people Johnny, and got some concerned looks in the break room when someone saw my list of cemeteries. I’ve been having some strange experiences lately, Ang.” She told her about the computer, about her phone ringing and her hearing, what sounded like Johnny’s voice. At work Brandi had found herself staring at one of the mail room guys—he’d looked like her brother.
“Oh, Brandi. What are you going to do, hun?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I might go home.”
“You’re joking, right? Home, as in Tennessee? I don’t think so.”
Only Ang was aware what going back would mean for her. But she told her, “I can hardly hear you. Look, I’m fine. Go, enjoy, K. I’ll talk at you as soon as I decide something.”
Copyright ã B.Dian Addair 2007. All rights Reserved.
Cover art. B.Dian Addair

Eve Asbury, Gayle Eden Novels are Available in e book with Alinar Publishing: www.alinarpublishing.com
Read Free Gayle/Eve books on Alinar Publishing’s Yahoo Group and www.evesromance.com.

REFUGE FROM THE STORM
CLANDESTINE
IMAGINE ME
UNDENIABLE
WINTER HEART
THE CHRISTMAS BALL
WRITING AS EVE ASBURY
HER WAY HOME
THE BEQUEST
THE BOND AND THE BRAND, E BOOK AND PAPERBACK AVAILABLE AT Air Castle Bookstore. http://www.lulu.com/content/1125821
To see a list of all Gayle Eden/Eve Asbury books available, visit the author website: http://www.evesromance.com

AKA-D — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:07:45 CST

LUCID GENRE THRILLER B.D. DILLON

Excerpt: Everything was difficult, like swimming mentally through thick grey smoke. She hurt and felt sick. Lane Sherridan heard the voices, two distinct male ones. One was smooth and deep, the other even and calm, yet sometimes so gentle she wanted to cry.
If only she could. The pains in her muscles were excruciating. Her head pounded. Thirst was constant. It was a battle to block one out to focus on the other. She vomited, then trembled so violently her teeth clattered together.
She remembered sounds, female voices and distant laughter and shouts. Hands touched her hair and arms, feelings and disjointed dreams that were somewhere in the past. Time wasn’t a conscious thought, senses were what stood out in long black spaces.
Something, that interrupted the fog and heaviness, a blip inside the tunnel that happened when voice or scent or touch occurred. It was those senses that replaced the concept of days and hours and time for her. And it was that which seemed familiar-- when she could eventually focus her eyes.
Blurb: Locked inside Briarwood Mental Institution after the drowning death of her husband, Sam, Lane Sherridan has spent the last five years in a cloud of darkness.
Dr. Anthony “Tony” Gabrielli, haunted by the demons of his own past, reluctantly takes a position at Briarwood, and immediately discovers something isn’t quite right with one of his patients.
The inconsistencies don’t add up, nor does the questionable care Mrs. Sherridan has received. As Tony delves deeper into Lane Sherridan’s story, it becomes clear to him that she is in grave danger.
Enlisting the help of some trusted associates, namely his long-time friend Bradley Houtman, Tony embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery, and save Lane from the invisible hands that are slowly squeezing out her life… and destroying her mind.
Their world becomes a chase for the truth, and a race for survival. As the fog lifts, and the memories come flooding back, both Lane and Tony discover the importance…of being Lucid.

soon to be added...
I've got this book up as a free read on my yahoo group, go to www.evesromance.com for the link to join. also there is The Reiver, and Unspoken, all free reads.

upcoming in o8

and seductions in silk by gayle eden

AKA-D — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:03:19 CST

AKA-D — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:15:09 CDT

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AKA-D — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:29:20 CDT

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AKA-D — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:30:57 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

AKA-D — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:56:17 CDT

Available at Alinar publishing Aug -07 genre: historical regency romance

length: 42385 / novella

rating: sultry

by Gayle Eden
Madeline Duvall and her sister Lydia were born into the Merchant Class but far from spoiled. Madeline has no awe of the ton, though her family certainly moved in high enough circles. But something Madeline overheard at 17, a fierce argument between the handsome Earl of Fairbane and his scandalous wife, forever changed that sense of being in control of her destiny and her heart- and a kiss of supposed anger, parting words of bitterness, forever placed Dorian Engstrom in her Imaginings of what passion could be.

Dorian came from scandal, and due to an impulsive marriage found himself drowning in debt. An Earl who knew the rules of his society, and one who was jaded beyond redemption. But on one night he'd finally decided to risk more scandal, and divorce his wife, a violent argument was witnessed by a young woman- who later offered him more than any woman had before.

It was not just money to save him from debt, not just the temptation- though the chit was too young to see so far into his soul. But the kiss meant to punish, soon became something unforgettable. As the years pass, scandal swarms around him, Dorian would meet her again. Each time, the overwhelming attraction would demand that he chose between resisting what he could not have, and walking away- because honor was something he couldn't afford before, and since meeting her, constantly thinking of her, he knew that he was better off in the cold blooded arrangement he'd made with the mature daughter of a Marquis, rather than trying to gain a life with Madeline that he thought impossible given his past experience.

In their minds, in their hearts, in the darkness of their chambers, each imagined that nothing stood between them and their desires. But in the day hours, they went through the motions of what was expected, until on the brink of solving all his problems with Marriage to the right woman... They meet once more.

Lydia also has a secret, a long held memory of a wild and brawny Scot who's kiss and memory refuse to fade. She has landed the attention of a wealthy Lord who doesn't need her fortune, a handsome Adonis, willing to overlook the fact she comes from (trade) to give her a life in the ton that most Merchant daughters aspire to. But like her sister, Lydia senses there should be more. There is some connection to that youthful encounter and her inability to commit herself or feel strongly for Lord Lynwood. Is she fooling herself, risking the loss of an excellent match, an enviable one, for the man who walks thorough her mind and makes her hunger for things money and wealth cannot buy.

historical regency romance ebook

Ebook: $2.99
Formats: HTML & PDF

Summary The Earl of Wythe is a notorious rake, with one goal in mind - to get Lady Joan Lecrox into his bed.

Joan is doing the Season to please her Uncle Willy, who doesn't want Joan to settle for being an old maid, until she's had a taste of the Town. Joan is unique - she is also dead set on avoiding rakes and men in general, having learned some rather harsh lessons about impetuous passions. She is well aware of what Roger wants, and is determined to resist.

Roger sets out to demolish her defenses, and a game of seduction and temptation begins. Whenever he can get Joan alone, he whispers to her, seductive, alluring promises that will introduce her to passion and the sensual world of lovers.

In spite of her resolve, Joan is too soon swept away, until she finds herself meeting him for trysts in his house outside London. In the dark, when he whispers, she becomes aware of herself as a sensual woman, but it is the closeness, the most intimate connection between male and female that is most enlightening for Joan.

Coming to her senses, Joan decides that she and Wythe have gone far beyond a few encounters, and though he has given her the priceless gift of restoring her faith in what lovers can be, he has also brought her heart to the brink of something more.

Roger too, has gone farther with Joan than he has with any woman. The scandal of his past, the brooding darkness inside of him cannot prevent him from thinking of her. After the season, when the affair is over, they meet again in Bristol. Will they take this one chance to make what they feel more than passion, or will the mistakes in their past keep them from recognizing that their hearts long for much, much more?

Whispers in the Dark is an incredibly sensual story, rich in both imagery and eroticism. It’s a story of discovery, about living out a fantasy and then finding love along the way. This romantic tale of Gayle Eden’s is guaranteed to be one you'll remember!

Find other Gayle Eden books at Alinar Publishing
http://www.alinarpublishing.com/authorinterviews.php

AKA-D — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 22:19:42 CDT

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