Virtual Book Tour: Metrofloat New York by William Quincy Belle

Good morning! Please welcome author William Quincy Belle to Full Moon Dreaming. He is here to discuss his new release, Metrofloat New York. William will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC or Paypal cash to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on his tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

Metrofloat New York

by William Quincy Belle

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GENRE: Science Fiction

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BLURB:

A Post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi thriller.

Several hundred years in the future, Earth is a different planet. Antigravity has been invented and “flying” has given way to “floating”: giant platforms with cities remain above the growing surface temperatures as enclaves of the privileged. A global pandemic has wiped out 80% of those on the ground, and a virulent, flesh-eating disease, necrofasc, has left most with artificial body parts. Insects are the main food staple. A utopia for some, a dystopia for others.

Metrofloat New York, a futuristic city of thirty million, is run by an oligarchy of five rich and powerful people. An unknown assassin, working from within the system, attempts to seize control and declare himself dictator by methodically removing all rivals. Detective Matthew Heart of the Metropolitan Police must deal with his partner, a cyborg policewoman, his unofficial family, a transgender woman and her one-legged daughter, and a mysterious assailant bent on taking over the world by killing anyone who stands in his way.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT:

Alan and Terry were skinny enough to slip through the security perimeter into the antigravity zone. Already, they heard the pounding of the AG machines. Workers in the area often wore ear protection, as the constant noise could damage their hearing, but when one is young and foolish, protection is for wimps. They climbed down to the lowest scaffolding and looked out over the panorama below. The ground was a good kilometer down, speckled with the twinkling lights of the settlement. Each light was a potential target for a jump-and-grab, so tonight looked to be an excellent opportunity.

Rumors had been circulating around the high school for over a year about thrill seekers doing the unthinkable: bungee jumping from the metrofloat. Alan and Terry had pooled their money and bought the latest in equipment, including a controllable elasticized cable, a double-safety ankle harness, and a precision-positioning system with automatic height detection. The flexible anchor allowed them to set up the bungee in any location in record time, so they could get in, jump, and get out before the authorities knew they were violating restricted areas.

Alan would make the first attempt. He had decked himself with various tools attached to his belt and a helmet with a lamp. He had double-checked his ankle connectors and made sure the safety harness was in place. Terry gave him the once-over, enumerating each item out loud so they both knew they had checked everything. Alan climbed over the railing and held on as Terry fed out the cable so it was free and clear of the scaffolding.

Quivering with excitement, Alan looked over at his friend. Terry grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. Alan turned back to the open space, took a deep breath, and spread his arms out. He bent his knees and pushed off into a swan dive.

Alan had ten seconds of free fall before the cable slowed his descent — ten seconds of weightlessness as the wind whistled by his head. It was peaceful. And surreal. It wasn’t every day somebody jumped from a height of a thousand meters.

Looking toward the ground when he jumped, Alan twisted as he now fell, upside down, and brought his head up to look off into the distance. The light from his helmet flashed on something. He swept his head back and forth until the object was visible again. There was a human body three meters from him, free-falling at the same rate. It tumbled in the air. Judging by the looseness of the limbs, Alan guessed the person was unconscious. Or dead. Wouldn’t somebody falling to their death be thrashing about?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

William Quincy Belle is just a guy. Nobody famous; nobody rich; just some guy who likes to periodically add his two cents worth with the hope, accounting for inflation, that $0.02 is not over evaluating his contribution. He claims that at the heart of the writing process is some sort of (psychotic) urge to put it down on paper and likes to recite the following, which so far he hasn't been able to attribute to anyone: "A writer is an egomaniac with low self-esteem." You will find Mr. Belle's unbridled stream of consciousness floating around in cyberspace.

Amazon: Metrofloat New York

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K631LDS

Web site

http://www.williamquincybelle.com

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/WilliamQuincyBelle

Twitter

https://twitter.com/wqbelle

Amazon author page

https://www.amazon.com/William-Quincy-Belle/e/B01M1IQ69G

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday Briefs: In Pieces #63 (15.4)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

In last week's installment of In Pieces, Ryan and Ben found themselves with some alone time before they plan to meet the others to do some shopping. They decide to take a shower. Let the fun begin! See how they're doing in this week's chapter! Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they're up to! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

In Pieces #63 (15.4)

Ryan repeated his ministrations with the matching conditioner, then carefully guided Ben’s head beneath the spray to rinse everything off.  Beside the hair care products, Ryan noticed a small bottle of body wash.  He popped the cap and sniffed. Seemed pleasant enough. He poured some onto one palm, then replaced the bottle on the shelf and rubbed his hands together to spread the gel.

“That for me?” Ben asked, his eyes fixed on Ryan.

“Absolutely,” Ryan replied. “Nothing but the best for you. Step toward me just a little.” He didn’t want the water to run over Ben’s shoulders before he was ready to rinse. He began to skim his hands across Ben’s chest, loving the feel of Ben’s wet skin beneath his palms. He soaped up every inch he could reach while standing, then dropped to his knees with a fresh squeeze of body wash and ran his hands up and down Ben’s smooth legs.

“That feels nice,” Ben said.

“You feel nice.” Ryan let his hands linger on Ben’s balls, squeezing gently. On impulse, he sucked the tip of Ben’s cock into his mouth, feeling it harden beneath his touch. Ben moved closer, his fingers finding purchase in Ryan’s hair. Ryan moved his mouth farther down Ben’s shaft, consuming him whole. He increased the pressure of his sucking, humming into Ben’s wet flesh, knowing it would produce sensual vibrations. At that, Ben began to thrust harder into Ryan’s mouth. Ryan could hear the erotic noises coming from Ben, even over the sound of the streaming water. Ben’s grip in Ryan’s hair tightened even more as his body tensed, just before he exploded in Ryan’s mouth in strong bursts of fluid. Ryan continued sucking as he swallowed, never letting up until he’d milked every last drop that he could.

Ryan released Ben’s cock finally. He leaned his forehead against Ben’s abdomen, catching his breath. He looked up when Ben tugged gently at his hair.

“You’re so good to me,” Ben said. “I don’t deserve your goodness.”

“It’s cause I love you.” Ryan kissed the inside of Ben’s thigh. “And you do. Turn into the spray and rinse off. There’s more I want to do to you, but not here.”

Ben didn’t argue, but the tremor that ran through his body told Ryan he was as excited at the idea as Ryan was. As water streamed down Ben’s front, Ryan busied himself with another portion of Ben’s anatomy. Peppering Ben’s cheeks with kisses, he gently pulled the globes apart and ran his tongue across Ben’s hole. Ben shivered again.

“Oh God, Ryan,” he moaned.

Ryan slid one wet finger inside of Ben even as he continued to tongue him. He didn’t think he’d ever get tired of being with Ben, not if he lived to be a hundred. Ben was all he wanted or needed in his life, and nothing would change that. “Want another finger?” he asked.

“Yes, please.”

Ryan readily complied, pushing both fingers toward a certain spot inside of Ben. He knew he’d reached it when Ben cried out wordlessly. Twisting his fingers, he hit the spot again and again. Ben’s body vibrated at Ryan’s touch, pushing back into it almost frantically.

“Ryan…. Oh my god…. Need you,” Ben gasped out. “In me…. Please.”

Ryan had intended to take Ben back to the bedroom so they would have the benefit and comfort of the bed, but Ben’s voice and his own need were too strong to deny. He clutched Ben’s hips as he rose to his feet, taking his own aching dick in his hand as he guided it inside of Ben.

“Yesssssss!” Ben cried out.

Ryan maneuvered Ben and himself until they weren’t directly under the water, Ben’s hands flat against the shower wall as Ryan thrust inside of him, over and over. This felt too good to stop. They’d have time for more lovemaking later, but they were both too caught up in this to postpone consummation by even a few seconds.

Ryan slid his hands onto Ben’s front, over his hard nipples, pinching them. Harder and harder he plunged, knowing he wouldn’t last much longer. Ben’s continued thrusts, the sound of his voice, the feel of him… all combined to send Ryan over the edge. His cock spasmed as he came inside of Ben, holding him tightly against him as he shot his load.

Nothing was spoken between them as they stood together in wet contentment. When Ryan felt Ben shiver, he realized they should probably dry off and get warm. Luckily, the water was still warm, which facilitated rinsing. Once out of the shower, they grabbed two hotel towels and rubbed each other dry in the bedroom.

“I’m sorry now we said we’d go out,” Ben said. They lay together on the bed, relaxed and at ease, not having bothered to dress. Yet. “But, on the other hand, I would like to see you in a swim suit.”

Ryan felt himself blush. “Nothing special to look at,” he began but Ben kissed his protests away.

“Hush you. You’re special, just the way you are. Besides, it’s good exercise. I’ve been letting myself go lately.”

Ryan eyed Ben’s lean body skeptically. “This is letting yourself go?”

Ben laughed.

“You’re in great shape,” Ryan continued. “If anything, you could stand a little more meat on your bones.”

Ben’s eyebrows arched. “Now you sound like a Jewish grandmother.”

“Wait till you taste my chicken soup,” Ryan teased and they both laughed. Ryan tenderly stroked Ben’s cheek. “But you’re right. I know I don’t get enough exercise. And swimming with you will be fun. But no Speedos, okay?”

“Absolutely not,” Ben promised with a broad grin and a kiss.

to be continued

Now see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

Carol Pedroso

Book Review: A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals #2) by Alyssa Cole

A Duke by Default (Reluctant Royals #2)      

Author: Alyssa Cole

Publisher: Avon

American release date: July 31, 2018

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Contemporary Romance/384 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Portia Hobbs is the black sheep of her family, the one who can do nothing right. Always compared to her perfect twin sister, Reggie, Portia has always felt that people think it should have been her, rather than Reggie, who fell ill and ended up wheelchair-bound. Having money is not the answer to everything, which Portia proves abundantly. She stops and starts projects on a whim, changes lovers constantly, and drinks to excess. Even her friend Ledi finds her hard to deal with sometimes. So now Portia is off on another of her harebrained journeys to find herself, this time as an apprentice to a sword maker in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Arriving in Edinburgh, Portia is dismayed to find her new employer nowhere in evidence, so is forced to hire a vehicle to take her to Bodotria Armory. There she comes upon an alarming scene—a young woman being menaced by an older man. Portia rushes into the fray without hesitation, making the assailant, onl to discover that she has just attacked her new boss! Great first impression!  Apparently the two were just engaging in a little swordplay, which is not surprising considering where they are! Besides being greatly embarrassed, Portia can’t help but notice how sexy her new boss is. But she’s decided before she even arrived in Scotland that she is a new Portia, and this Portia does not drink, and she most certainly does not fool around with handsome Scotsmen!

Tavish McKenzie is a little taken aback by the unexpected assault, but even more when he gets an actual glimpse of Portia, once his eyes stop burning. No denying she is very stunning. He was never in favor of the apprentice program to begin with, that being his brother Jamie’s idea, but he reluctantly goes along with it. Doesn’t mean he’s going to make things easy for Portia, and he’s resistant to all of her ideas to help the armory. Change does not come easily to Tav. He knows little of the Internet, and hates to be in any video. Besides, he has other problems, including making the armory pay, as well as teaching the weans, and keeping the neighborhood from being scooped up by land-hungry corporations who have no idea about the people who live there and make their livelihood there.

At first, Tav keeps Portia at a distance, telling her to busy herself with things other than sword making. Not one to be easily daunted, she does so, at the same time continuing to contribute to her sister’s popular blog, GirlsWithGlasses.  Although dismayed at not being able to do what she came to do, she refuses to give up, even as she fights her growing attraction to Tav who, as she discovers, has a gentle heart beneath his exterior gruff. While doing some research, Portia uncovers some information that will be a real game changer for Tav. Apparently, his biological father was a duke, unknown to him, and the title has gone to someone else, in lieu of a direct descendant. If he takes back the title, and all that comes with it, not only is problems but a lot of those of the neighborhood can be taken care of. But is he cut out to be a duke? And what about the mutual attraction between Tav and Portia? How long can they go before having to act on it?

Much as I loved A Princess in Theory, I have to agree with my daughter that the second book is even better! Watching Tav and Portia dance around each other while growing hopelessly more and more in love is priceless! They each have personal baggage, and a reluctance to become involved with someone else. But sometimes, what is meant to be will be. I wasn’t exactly fond of Portia in the first book, but she not only redeemed herself in this one, I grew to love her. She has carried so much around with her for such a long time. Her sister is supportive, but she tends to keep Reggie at arm’s length, and their parents… well, they don’t treat Portia very well, and that’s actually an understatement. Tav and Portia are certainly a match for one another, and each gives as good as they get. There’s a novella that comes after this book, and I have that, and there is also a third book, which concerns Johan, who is A Prince on Paper.  Looking forward to it very much.

If you like romances and great couples and happily ever after, A Duke by Default is perfect for you!

Virtual Book Tour: Magic, Mayhem & Murder by January Bain

Good morning! Please welcome author January Bain to Full Moon Dreaming! She is here to tell us about her new release, Magic, Mayhem & Murder. January will be awarding a $25 Amazon or BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning! To find the other stops on January's tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

Magic, Mayhem & Murder

by January Bain

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GENRE:   psychic cozy mystery

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BLURB:

Book one in Manitoba Tea & Tarot Mysteries series
Charm McCall, armed with a library full of Agatha Christie stories and her unique witchy gifts, knows how to solve a small-town murder…

Charm McCall, the oldest of the McCall triplets by a whole day—or one minute before midnight if one’s being picky—is the designated driver for her whole town. Why, if it wasn’t for her, Snowy Lake would incinerate or fall into Hudson’s Bay. With her unique abilities, she’s all set to keep her family and town safe and on its proper course.

That is, until a hot Mountie moves into town, a busload of strippers breaks down on Main Street and Mrs. Hurst goes and gets herself murdered with poisoned jam. Jam crafted by Charm’s family at the Tea & Tarot café. Now it’s up to her to solve the murders—yes, plural, when another local business owner ends up dead.

Charm knows just what to do. What’s breaking a few laws if she can sleuth out the culprit? She knows the people of Snowy Lake better than any new lawman possibly could. So why can’t he just leave her be to get on with things?

And why does he have to be so darn hot?

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EXCERPT:

There came a loud snapping of branches. Darn it, unwanted company. My fingers grasped at the aerosol spray bottle at my waist. I waited for another sound to alert me to the direction of the intruder. The sun in my eyes, I squinted to survey the landscape, swiveling my head back and forth.

There.

I caught the movement of a humongous upright creature headed straight for me, plowing through the thick undergrowth and overhead canopy as though he had just one intention—to do me harm. I didn’t care if it were a huge black bear or the legendary Bigfoot. Either way, I’d strike first, with the sharp knife hidden in my boot if it came to that. I sprayed the noxious substance from the hip, directing the wide stream from my belt holster.

A loud grunt of surprise sounded. “Aww, why did you do that?” More moans of human agony followed.

Oops.

Out of the bushes stumbled a very large man—not Bigfoot, but darn close. Dressed in a black windbreaker, black jeans and extra-large combat boots, he wore a very nice black Stetson, accompanied by a full-on grimace. And oh my, when he pinned me with a look from his haunting brown eyes under that spectacular bad-boy hat, my insides somersaulted. Wow.

“Oh, my goodness! I’m so sorry! Thought you were a black bear. If I’d known you were—well, you, I’d never have sprayed.”

The tall hunk of a man was too busy flushing his face with a water bottle to give me an answer. I waited, chewing on my lower lip and wishing I could just sink into the ground. But who rumbled through the bushes in such an obvious way? A bear, that was who. A land predator unafraid of humans and wanting to take a bite right out of me.

“Ma’am, I was coming to warn you. There’s been a bear sighted not far from here. I heard you caterwauling and thought you might be in trouble. Didn’t expect to be pepper sprayed for my trouble.”

I looked around warily. Maybe it was time to head back to town and bring a group of people to pick berries another day when I could assign someone to keep a lookout. I had filled four buckets. Not too shabby.

Wait.

What did he just say?

“I do not caterwaul. I was singing. And it sure beats crashing through the bush like Bigfoot.”

“If you say so, darlin’.” Was that a twinkle in his eyes? The rest of his handsome mug remained inscrutable, launching another fussy crop of butterflies into my body, looking to land. He came closer and the acrid stench of the protection spray on his clothes made my eyes water in sympathy. Oh, my.

He caught my grimace. “Not so pleasant an odor to be around, I agree. I’m Constable Ace Collins, by the way.”

“As in RCMP?” My voice came out in a high-pitched squeal. Darn it. Of all the people to mace, how did I manage a lawman?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope her stories will capture your imagination.

If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with her furry baby, Ling Ling. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man! Who once famously remarked to her inquiry about buying fresh flowers for their home every week, “Give me one good reason why not?” Leaving her speechless and knocking her head against the proverbial wall for being so darn foolish. She loves flowers.

If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook. Oh, and she loves to talk books…

Blog Address - http://januarybainjourney.blogspot.ca/

Twitter Name – https://twitter.com/JanuaryBain

Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/january.bain

Any other social media - 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6437282.January_Bain

Amazon page - https://amzn.to/2NaPYub

Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6437282.January_Bain

Totally Bound Author Page: https://www.totallybound.com/author/january-bain

Email address for fans -

januarybain@xplornet.com

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Wednesday Briefs: In Pieces #62 (15.3)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

Lunch with Marge was great, Ryan really likes her. But now everyone is going to take a break before they regroup and decide what to do. Some alone with Ben is just what Ryan wanted. How will they spend their time together? Check out this week's chapter of In Pieces and find out. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what they've been up to! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

In Pieces #62 (15.3)

The sated group walked back to the motel together, then drove the two vehicles around the building to where the clerk had said their rooms were.  Turned out Marge’s room was close to theirs as well.  Ben handed out the key cards to the other members of the band and they separated with promises to meet up in an hour or so. Ryan and Ben then got their things from the trunk, and walked Marge to her room before heading to theirs.

Alone at last.

Ryan felt almost giddy once Ben had closed the door, leaving the rest of the world outside.    

  

“Why don’t we just throw our suitcases on the extra bed?” Ben suggested. “We’ll only be here a couple of nights, why unpack?”

“That’s a good idea,” Ryan agreed. “Save us some trouble. Which bed should we use?”

“How about we sleep in the one closest to the bathroom?” He tossed his own suitcase onto the other bed, and Ryan quickly followed suit. He set his laptop on top of the dresser. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be using it anytime soon.

“Did you really want to take a nap?” He didn’t want to assume anything, although he was pretty sure he knew the answer to his question. And if Ben was tired, then they would rest, no argument there.

“Maybe afterward.” Ben gave him a knowing wink which made his heart lurch. “Actually, I was thinking we should take a shower. Cool down a little, you know?”

Ryan knew that if he and Ben were naked in the shower together, things were more likely to heat up than cool down. But he certainly appreciated the sentiment.

“Good idea,” Ryan agreed. “Together, right?”

“Absolutely together,” Ben replied. He began to strip, tossing each piece of clothing on the floor in his wake as he headed toward the bathroom. Ryan took a moment to enjoy the view before following him, hastily discarding his own clothing.

The bathroom was not much smaller than the one they were using at Cameron’s house, with the added luxury of not having to be shared with two other guys. Ben was adjusting the water temperature. “Okay, come on in,” he beckoned to Ryan. Ryan stepped inside the tub and held his hand up to the spray.

“Feels good,” he commented. “Not too hot, not too cold…”

“Just right.” Ben grinned. He pulled Ryan into a gentle kiss, his hands lightly skimming up and down Ryan’s back. “We can pretend we’re playing house and this is our home,” he said. “At least for the next couple of days.” He stepped closer to Ryan, so close their cocks rubbed together. Then he turned, facing the spray, giving Ryan a most spectacular view of his ass.

Ryan couldn’t resist. He cupped those gorgeous globes and pressed soft kisses to Ben’s neck. No need to rush, he just wanted to enjoy their closeness. Spotting a small bottle of shampoo on a ledge inset against the wall, he got an idea.

“Would you like me to wash your hair?” he offered.

Ben turned his head to regard him.  “Really?” He sounded incredulous.

“Really,” Ryan said. “You sure it’s okay with you?” He didn’t want to do anything Ben wasn’t willing to do, not ever.

Ben nodded shyly. “Promise you won’t laugh if I tell you something…”

Ryan caressed the nape of Ben’s neck, intrigued to know what he was going to say. “I never would,” he assured him.

“I’ve had this fantasy for a long time, of you washing my hair. I know it sounds silly…”

“It absolutely doesn’t,” Ryan said. “Besides, I offered, didn’t I? I wouldn’t have if I didn’t want to. 

C’mon, let’s get your hair wet first. Too bad this shower doesn’t have a handheld. We’ll have to do it again sometime, in a better bath.”

Ryan had never even thought about doing this for anyone before, but with Ben it felt natural. He turned Ben so that his back was to the spray, and made sure every strand was dampened. Ben closed his eyes as Ryan worked, allowing him to feast on the sight of him. Ben was so beautiful, he made Ryan’s heart ache. He thought he’d loved him before, but he knew that was the love of a teenager. What he felt now had only matured with time, ripened and blossom into something much stronger.

He took Ben’s hands and led him out of the water, then turned him around again, taking the bottle of shampoo in hand. There were a couple to choose from. The one he picked was marked hibiscus. He squeezed the gel onto one hand, replaced the bottle on the shelf, then rubbed his hands together before running them through Ben’s wet hair. He massaged his way through the strands, making sure to spread the shampoo everywhere.

“You have a fantastic touch.” Ben’s voice was almost a moan. He leaned back toward Ryan.

“I love touching you,” Ryan said. “Everything about you is beautiful. You’re so gorgeous, you could get any man you want.” Where had that come from? Maybe it was because Ben’s back was to him so he felt emboldened to speak his mind.

Ben slid in his arms to face it, a frown marring his forehead. “You’re the only man I’ve ever wanted,” he said. “You’re perfect for me, you’re amazing… I’m the one who’s not—”

“Don’t say that, don’t even think it,” Ryan protested. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. You’re beautiful, you’re talented, you have so much charm it should be illegal…”

Ben stilled him with a kiss, and Ryan lost himself in the moment, allowing Ben’s lips to sweep away his perceived inadequacies. Ben loved him, nothing else mattered.

to be continued

Now go see what's up with the other Briefers!

Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

Wednesday Briefs: In Pieces #61 (15.2)

Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

Although nervous to meet Salvation's manager, Ryan quickly takes to her and she to him. She seems like a mother to the group, and lunch at the Mexican buffet goes well. See what's going on with everyone in this week's chapter of In Pieces. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them! Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

In Pieces #61 (15.2)

The buffet contained everything Ryan could think of and then some, from tacos to enchiladas to empanadas and more. He wanted to try everything, but he was afraid his eyes would prove to be bigger than his stomach. He could always go back for more, he reminded himself. No sense in going crazy.

Once he and Ben had loaded their plates to their satisfaction, they headed back to the table, where the promised margaritas waited for them. At first, little was said as everyone paid close attention to their food. But once the first edges of hunger were satisfied, conversation picked up.

“How long are you staying, Marge?” Abby asked. “Can you come listen to us tomorrow night? Or do you have to get back right away?”

“Damn straight I’m gonna stay,” Marge replied. “I don’t get to hear you guys play near often enough. This’ll be a treat. I already told Kelly not to expect me back tonight.”

Ryan shot Ben an inquisitive look. “Her wife,” he said sotto voce.

“How’s Kelly doing?” Deacon asked.

“She’s doing great.” Marge beamed at them over her glass. “Sales are good, the real estate market’s getting better all the time. Otherwise she’d have come with me. She loves you guys, you know.”

“We love her too,” Keanu said, halting his fork in mid-air. “And man, can she cook. I keep telling her she should open her own restaurant.”

“I know, right?” Marge laughed as she patted her belly. “How do you think I got all this? I tell her that too, but she just says she only wants to cook for me, otherwise it’s not fun anymore. Can’t blame her for that.”

“Have any plans for tonight?” Aiden asked.

“Not really, why?”

“We were thinking about shopping for swim suits and hanging out by the pool. At least for a little bit. After that, I’m not sure what’s on the agenda, we didn’t exactly decide.”

“I could stand doing a little sunbathing.” Marge grinned. “I think I might take a siesta first, though. This food is delicious, but it’s making me sleepy.”

“Where you staying?” Ben asked. “We have Cameron’s car at the motel. We can drop you off wherever you want to go.”

“I’m at the same place you are, sweetie. Thought it would be easier that way. You guys walked here, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, we did, but I don’t mind getting the car,” Ben insisted. “Save you from walking back.”

“Pssh, I’ll be fine,” Marge said. “The walk will do me good.” She glanced at Ryan. “So, how are you enjoying the tour so far?”

“I’m enjoying it very much, ma’am,” Ryan responded. “So far, it’s been a pretty incredible experience.”

Marge chortled. “No ma’am, just Marge,” she insisted. “It’s gonna get even better. First Louisiana, then the whole country, right?”

“Right,” the members of the band piped up quickly.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I had a box of CDs mailed to the motel. You can sell them tomorrow night, like in between sets, and when you run out, let me know. I’ll send more.”

Good Now Ryan could get a copy for himself. Although it wouldn’t be nearly as good as hearing them live, but he knew they would still sound great.

Keanu rose from his seat, and for a moment Ryan wondered if he was going to suggest Deacon come with him to the men’s room. Again. But it turned out he had other things on his mind. “I’m going back for more, who’s with me?”

Aiden and Abby rose, and so did Marge. Deacon just shook his head. “Haven’t finished this one yet. What’s that, your third plate? Not that I’m counting or anything.”

“Not that I care or anything.” Keanu stuck out his tongue. “You’ll still love me even when I’m fat, and you know it. I’m that habit that you just can’t break.”

“You mean like some kind of drug?” Deacon deadpanned. “Not all habits are good, you know.”

“Yeah, well, I’m the best kind,” Keanu said confidently. He strutted toward the buffet. The others, ignoring their little repartee, were already there.

“Maybe Marge has a good idea,” Ben said. “A little nap before we head out wouldn’t go amiss.”

Ryan glanced at him in surprise. He’d never known Ben to willingly go to sleep during the middle of the day. Then he spotted the gleam in Ben’s eye, and he realized sleep wasn’t really what he was after. Wanting to reinforce the suggestion, Ryan faked a yawn.

“Good idea,” he said. The little snort that came from Deacon told him that he was fooling no one with his act and Deacon knew exactly what they were thinking.

“You can’t go wrong with a little time in the sack,” Deacon said, and it took Ryan a moment to catch the innuendo. His cheeks warmed, even as Ben chuckled and squeezed his hand.

to be continued

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Cia Nordwell

J Alan Veerkamp

Carol Pedroso

Carol Pedroso

Virtual Book Tour: Brandon Fisher FBI series by Carolyn Arnold

Good morning! Please welcome author Carolyn Arnold to Full Moon Dreaming! She is here to tell us about her Brandon Fisher FBI series. Carolyn will be awarding a paperback copy of Remnants to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour via Rafflecopter. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

BRANDON FISHER FBI SERIES

by Carolyn Arnold

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GENRE: Police Procedural/Mystery

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BLURB:

Profilers. Serial killers. The hunt is on. Do serial killers and the FBI fascinate you? Do you like getting inside the minds of killers, love being creeped out, sleeping with your eyes open, and feeling like you’re involved in murder investigations? Then join FBI agent and profiler Brandon Fisher and his team with the Behavioral Analysis Unit in their hunt for serial killers.

This is the perfect book series for fans of JT Ellison, Catherine Coulter, Allison Brennan, and Blake Pierce. This series is also bound to entertain those who enjoy Criminal Minds, NCIS, Silence of the Lambs, Seven, Dexter, Luther, and True Crime.

Read in any order or follow the series from the beginning: Eleven, Silent Graves, The Defenseless, Blue Baby, Violated, Remnants, On the Count of Three.

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Meet today’s guest, Carolyn Arnold.

She is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series and has written nearly thirty books. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark, POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Today, she answers a few questions for us and gives us insight into her life and journey as a mystery author.

Have you ever been on a manhunt or at the scene where a dead body was found?

I took part in my local police department’s Citizen’s Academy. As part of this, I received an inside look at seventeen divisions over a ten-week period. As an added benefit, each student was afforded a ride-along. And mine… Well, I went on the perfect one for a crime writer.

My ride-along actually started out with a manhunt. I experienced the excitement of wanting to find the guy and found myself scrutinizing every male I spotted in the area just to make sure he wasn’t the one we were after. Unfortunately, the search moved to the downtown area from the eastern end of the city where the hunt had begun, and the sergeant signed off the investigation. By the end of my ride-along, about five hours later, the man still hadn’t been found.

After the sergeant left the investigation, he turned to me as he was driving and asked if I had ever seen a dead body. I told him I had at memorials and funerals and then asked why. I soon found out that our next stop involved one.

I figured I’d catch a glimpse of the deceased under a tarp or being wheeled away, but I got far more than that. I received a front-row seat to a death investigation. For hours, the sergeant and I were mere feet away from the body. I witnessed firsthand how it changed color over time, but I also found that I went into detective-mode. The forensic identification unit—essentially CSIs—was called in and arrived with collection kits. The team members gloved up, snapped photographs, took fingerprints from the deceased, and more.

The entire time that I was on scene, I noticed myself going into a detached state—the result of adrenaline. Later that evening, it began to sink in that I had spent hours with a dead body, and I was nauseated. As more time passed, I became weepy as it sank in that the deceased had been a husband, a father, a lover, a friend…a person. That night I dreamed about the man. It wasn’t a nightmare, but I was an officer trying to figure out what had happened to him.

I couldn’t imagine returning to the field the next day and having a similar experience or witnessing something even worse, like a violent murder scene or that of a fatal car accident.

What do members of law enforcement say about your books?

Many testimonials attest that I am pleasing readers in law enforcement. They love that my mysteries are accurate in that regard, and they view that alone as a sign of my respect for them.

Here are a few testimonials that I have received on Eleven (Brandon Fisher FBI series):

“I spent thirty-eight years with a major police department in Missouri, fifteen of which were in the homicide section. I also had numerous dealings with the FBI throughout my career, mostly bank robbery, interstate shipment thefts, and a few kidnappings. Eleven kept my interest piqued throughout… Loved it.”

–Richard Bartram, Sergeant (retired), St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, St. Louis, MO

“I am a forty-year veteran of police work. All local, no Fed. Eleven was a great read. All the descriptors and nomenclature were spot on.”

–Joe Danna, Police Officer, Katy Independent School District Police Department, Katy, TX

“Very good! I worked as a police officer for eleven years and with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for twenty-two. I have also dealt with the FBI.”

–Richard Smith, Facilities Development Manager (retired), Federal Bureau of Prisons, Central Office, Washington, DC

“A great police procedural! … Full of twists and turns. The characters are well-developed and a mix of interesting personalities. … Holds your interest to the end!”

–Mark Davis, FBI Special Agent (retired), Washington, DC

What did you do before you became a bestselling author?

For a living, I worked in accounts receivable for a few different companies collecting from businesses. Yet, despite working full time, in 2006 I was reunited with writing. I wrote every chance I got—before work, on lunch breaks, after work, on the weekends. I became so focused on writing and the publishing world that hardly a day went by without them being a part of my life, and since the summer of 2014, I’ve been a full-time author.

How do you know so much about what criminals think?

I can’t answer that without incriminating myself… Just kidding.

Everyone has what we call a “dark side.” In writing these books, I suppose you could say I tap into this side of my psyche. Whatever I can scheme up is possible, and I write that which scares and excites me.

When did you know that you had hit the big time with your books?

When I got to say good-bye to my day job! Even before I fully resigned, I had cut back a five-day a week job to four days, then to three. It got to the point, though, that I loathed going in for that many days, and I knew it was time to make the move and become a full-time author. That was in the summer of 2014. Since then, I incorporated my own publishing company in the summer of 2015, and, at the start of 2016, my husband joined me there full time.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures.

Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives in London, Ontario, with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:

Website - http://carolynarnold.net/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold

And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at http://carolynarnold.net/newsletters

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a Rafflecopter giveaway