By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa Reasor

Navy SEAL Wyatt Taylor is facing the hardest decision of his life—what the hell to do now he can no longer be a SEAL. Besides his bum arm, he also has a bad attitude, because in his opinion nothing he’ll ever do again will live up to his life as a SEAL. But now his savings are dwindling and his team has deployed without him, he knows he has to move on.

Kinley Green is living her dream. She’s worked with horses for years, training them, caring for them, and riding them. And now with a grant in hand, she’s finally able to put her horses and her expertise with disabled children to use on a working ranch.

When Wyatt Taylor walks in with his killer smile asking for a job, she sees trouble… But he knows horses and has intimate knowledge of what disability is all about. And she does need the help.

But when trouble strikes, threatening her business, her horses and her life… Will he prove to be the right man for the job?

Wyatt’s shoulder injury might have been fixable, except that a messed-up surgery caused additional nerve damage. Now separated from the Navy he’s looking for a job away from his family ranch. His parents while meaning well, are stifling him. A local boarding stable just may be his answer.

Kinsley owns a boarding stable that has a couple of barns. Horses that are boarded for clients and others for therapy and tourist rides. When Wyatt shows up at the stable to apply a mare is in labor. This particular mare has had a previous pregnancy that didn’t end well. One of her workers Gerald shows up and sees the mare sweating and clearly in full labor. However, it’s Wyatt who’s ready and willing to step up and help.

This is a favorite scene.

When a knock came at the door, she set the stack of papers aside with a relieved sigh and rose to answer it. A man stood outside her door, tall and broad-shouldered. She took in his arresting good looks while his attention was focused farther down the barn. His high cheekbones and prominent brow ridge spoke of some Native American heritage, but his sun-tipped light brown hair and heavy brows of the same color watered it down several generations.

“Can I help you?” Kinley asked.

He turned his head to look at her, and his tawny brown eyes seemed to have taken on the same sun-glazed hue so they matched the lighter shades in his hair. He needed a haircut, and his jaw, shadowed by dark brown scruff, was angular and sloped to a chin that could only be described as stubborn. Her attention settled on his mouth. His full bottom lip seemed too lush to be combined with such blatant masculinity. She found it sexy as hell.

“You might want to call the vet. The mare in the stall at the end is foaling.”

“Oh, shit!” Kinley rushed out of the office to the farthest end of the barn. When she reached the stall, she found Tangerine moving restlessly around the enclosure, curling her top lip, shuffling her hind legs, and urinating.

She’d checked on her an hour earlier and hadn’t seen any change in her behavior, but things had obviously progressed since then. Kinley whipped her phone out of her back pocket and texted Hunter, Tangerine’s owner, then called the vet.

After she ended the call, she looked up from her phone to find him watching her.

Despite the situation, an instant attraction sparked a tingle in places she tried to ignore. “I’m Kinley Green. I manage the stables. Can I help you with something?” she asked.

He extended his right hand. “Wyatt Taylor.” He shook her hand with just the right amount of pressure, not too hard, like he wanted to prove his manliness, and not too soft, so he wouldn’t treat her like a frail female. “I saw a posting for a stable manager and decided to drop my application by on the way into town.” He extended an envelope to her.

Dressed in jeans, a long-sleeved cotton shirt of pale green, and cowboy boots, he looked like any other Texan. But there was something about the way he held himself and stood that was different. He’d removed his straw hat and gripped it by the crown like a true Texan, and he’d recognized the mare was laboring, so maybe he knew his way around a horse.

Gerald Hawbecker sauntered into the barn. He eyed Wyatt with brief interest. “I just came in to check on Tangerine.”

“I’ve already called the vet.”

“She’s in labor?” His brows rose and concern tightened his features. “I’ll go check on her.” Gerald went to the stall door but didn’t go in.

Wyatt’s deep voice drew her attention back to him. “You’re about to get very busy, and you have my information there.”

Gerald spoke over his shoulder. “She’s sweating and the placenta’s presenting. I think we need the vet.”

“I’ve already called him, and he said he’d be here as soon as possible.”

“After what happened last time…” Gerald started.

Kinley cut him off. “She’s going to be okay, Gerald.” She couldn’t think about what happened before. Tangerine was inconsolable, and had grieved for the loss of the foal, a colt, as had all the employees who helped care for the horse.

“If you’d like me to, I can stick around until the vet shows up.” Wyatt said.

Her attention snapped back to him. “How much experience do you have?”

“Ten years. I worked on my dad’s spread from the time I could carry a bucket. I was working on a veterinary degree to become a large animal vet when I decided to go into the Navy instead. I’ve been discharged for four months and I’ve been working with my dad’s horses since I moved back. We’ve had four mares foal since I’ve been back.”

“Go get the man some gloves, Gerald.”

“Okay.” He rushed across the barn to a door and disappeared inside.

Wyatt unbuttoned his shirt and shook free of it. Then handed it off to Kinley.

His sleeveless T-shirt molded to his chest and abdomen, outlining the sculpted musculature beneath. The red scar on his shoulder seemed obscene against the perfection of the rest of his skin. He put the obstetric glove on his left hand and arm, but it took him longer to do the right. She was moved to help him, but decided not to.

“There’s one last thing you should know. Tangerine doesn’t trust easily. Her owner moved her to another stable right after her colt died. She flinches away when you try to touch her, and she’ll nip.”

“I’ll be careful.”

He could do this. He might not have been around horses much since joining the Navy, but he hadn’t forgotten how to care for them. In the past month he’d assisted four horses birthing their foals. One had been a tricky birth, where he ended up having to reach inside the mare and reposition a front leg and the head.

Wyatt opened the stall door and cautiously approached the mare standing in the corner. He was a stranger, and she was laboring to give birth. And now he knew she also had trust issues. He kept his voice to a hushed rumble as he said, “It’s alright, Mama. I’m just here to help if you need me.”

Milk dripped from her teats, and her body was covered in a fine film of sweat. Her tail had already been wrapped in preparation for the birth. As he approached, her water broke, and the placental sac protruding from the horse’s vulva bulged as the shape of one hoof inside became visible.

The horse went to her knees and lay on her side. She kicked and kept raising her head to look at her stomach while she labored. He waited for the next hoof to appear. If it didn’t, he’d have to reach in and get things going in the right direction.

Fifteen long, slow minutes later and still no hoof. He eased closer and stroked her contracting belly. “It’s okay, Mama, I’m just going to check on that other hoof.” He eased his hand inside the birth canal. Every time a contraction hit, his arm was squeezed. He felt the edge of a hoof, grabbed it, and straightened the limb. He eased inside once more to find out how the head was positioned. Now the other leg had been straightened, the head fell forward between.

He pulled his arm out. “The head will appear in a few minutes.” Ten more minutes, and the foal’s head shoved forward from the mare’s body. This was when it was most difficult not to help, and time seemed to drag. When the rest of the foal’s body slid free, Wyatt breathed a sigh of relief. He moved quickly to grip the placenta with his numb hand, and with his right, quickly tore it open, freeing the foal’s front legs and head. The foal spontaneously took several breaths and lay on its side, recovering from the birth.

“Hey, Wyatt. How’s she doing?”

Recognizing Dr. Culver’s voice, he glanced up. “She’s doing fine. The foal is breathing.”

Even as he spoke, the mare turned to look at her baby and shifted around in the straw to lick the foal.

Wyatt peeled more of the placenta away. “It’s a filly.”

He stood from his crouched position and moved to the stall door. “I was just lending moral support more than anything.” He peeled the wet gloves off his arms, folding them inside each other, and dropped them into a waste receptacle nearby.

Doctor Culver raised a brow at that, his eyes on the gloves. “I’m glad you were here. Her last foal was born breech and didn’t make it.”

“That’s a shame.” Wyatt was just relieved things went right this time.

Dr. Carter nodded. “I’ll give her a few minutes to bond, then I’ll go in and knot the placenta so she won’t step on it when she gets up.”

Wyatt turned his attention back to Kinley Green. Her pale eyes looked as blue as the Texas sky and her wide, expressive mouth gave him a hard-on. Or it might just be the high he got from a successful mission.

She offered him his shirt. And he turned to slide his damaged arm into the sleave first.

“Why don’t you come into the office and let’s talk about the job,” she said.

He smiled. “Sure.”
Teresa Reasor. Hot SEAL,Open Arms (Kindle Locations 251-317). Teresa J. Reasor.

Wyatt had more than secured the job with his actions and after witnessing the scene with the mare’s owner Wyatt has a few things to say to the man. Wyatt knows Hunter Wagner from school, and it doesn’t appear he’s changed at all. Still the bully and using his money to do push his way around.

There’s far more than meets the eye here though. Between Gerald who didn’t want the manager job to Hunter whose mare is exhibiting new aggressive behaviors this book gets better with every page.

I love the suspense and intrigue as well as the romance and sizzle even as Wyatt and Kinley try not to take that fall.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J. Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reader to writer came easily and she was a closet novelist for many years until 2007 when her first book was published.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

By
USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa Reasor

Superstition, Kentucky harbors the largest supernatural population in the state. Mythical creatures and people with unusual abilities rub shoulders with average men and women in the small mountain town.

Vet Harper Montgomery has a secret. She’s a powerful psychic who hides behind her professional persona—until she has a vision of a child being abducted and rescues her.

When she starts experiencing more unusual visions and reports them, she captures a Superstition police detective’s interest.

Detective Miles Barrett is new to Superstition, Kentucky, and unaware of the hidden part of the population he serves, until he meets Harper. He doesn’t believe in her ability, but he’s searching for a monster who’s already killed four women while leaving behind almost no evidence, so he’s willing to give Harper a chance.

For the first time in her life, Harper is having more and more trouble controlling her gift, until she realizes she’s under attack by an evil too powerful to comprehend.

This book grabs you right on the first page with Harper Montgomery waking with a vision. A vision that is happening now, not in the future. A child is in danger and she has to help.

When Detective Miles Barrett gets the call about a body, I had to chuckle, his cat Phoebe is a typical cat especially when disturbed. However, the body is intimately connected to the other cases they’ve been looking into.

When Harper manages to rescue the child and get her to the hospital, she’s not totally truthful with the detectives. She can’t tell them about her visions, the reactions she’s had in the past are proof of that.

When Miles goes to interview Harper further, their attraction is immediate and they both manage to suppress it. There could be nothing between them until this case closes anyway.

As the investigation goes forward the leads are few and far between, Miles intercepted a reporter who was hoping to figure out who helped the girl and stopped him from looking further into the vet clinic staff.

He also finds himself unable to put Harper out of his mind so when he goes for a run and spots her, he joins her run. They agree to also have breakfast together as they continue their run. That’s delayed when they come upon an injured swan.

This is a favorite scene.

Harper kept busy calming the swan, murmuring soothing nonsense and moving her hand over the area that seemed injured and infusing the calm she was striving for toward the bird. She retrieved her phone from her zipped pocket and dialed a familiar number. “Ben, do you know anyone who is an expert in birds, especially?”

“Yeah, I just happen to know someone.”

“Of course you do.” She chuckled. “I have an injured swan at the jogging park. She’s got a fish hook embedded in her wing and the line is wrapped around her body. I think she’s been like this for a couple of days.”

“I’ll call him. He can be there in twenty minutes. His name is Charlie Harris.”

“He lives here?”

“Yeah. He rescues birds and relocates them.”

“Tell him to hurry. I’ve got a crowd gathering here, and I may need some help.”

“Will do.”

As she shut out the call, Miles returned.

“Shove everything toward me. You’re large, and she might mistake you for a predator. Can you call Gabby to you?”

Miles rolled the bottle of water toward her first, then the wire cutters and pliers. The med kit came last. She removed some hand sanitizer from the medical kit, cleaned her hands and the pliers, then put gloves on. She soothed the bird with soft strokes, then eased back the feathers and studied the hook embedded in the wing and decided there was no easy way to remove it other than backing it out. It was embedded in the edge of the wing just below where it was attached to the bird’s body. She gripped the curve of the hook with the pliers and turned her wrist as she pulled with steady pressure. The barb of the hook hung on for a moment, then finally came loose. The swan made a loud, snorting sound and stretched her neck.

Harper froze, hoping the swan wasn’t going to attack. Her dark orange beak was only inches from Harper’s face but instead of attacking, the bird rested her head on Harper’s shoulder, as though relieved.

Drawing a long, relieved breath herself, Harper allowed the wound to bleed a moment before putting a piece of gauze over the injury and applying pressure while she studied the hook. It looked new, but if it had been baited and cast in the water, it could have bacteria on it.

She wasn’t a bird expert, but she hoped the poor thing wouldn’t develop an infection. To that end, she applied a liberal amount of antibiotic ointment to the injury and sent some healing heat toward the puncture wound.

Taking her time, her movements slow and easy, she started unwinding the fishing line from around the bird’s body a strand at a time. When it was too tangled to pull on, she cut the ends with scissors from the med kit, wound each around her hand until she reached the end, then found another. If she didn’t get it all, the bird might ingest some of it, creating an even more life-threatening scenario.

She was almost finished when the swan suddenly stretched, spreading both wings and flapping them, and in the process shed several pieces of the line herself.

Harper gave her one more thorough check, then smiled, relieved. “You’re going to be just fine.”

A tall, thin man wearing a baseball hat approached, but stayed ten or so feet away. “Hey, I’m Charlie.”

His demeanor was so calm, his stance so loose-jointed and nonthreatening, he almost seemed a shadow. “Hi, Charlie.”

“I have a cage ready, but I don’t think we’ll need it. I think you’ve done just about everything anyone can.”

“I’m concerned about infection.”

“How big is the injury?”

“Just a small puncture wound from a fishing hook.”

“There are antibiotics you can give, but the trauma of confining her until she takes a two-week supply will be worse. Cold weather is coming, she needs to migrate, and most of the flock is gone already. Being trapped here during the winter will be worse for her. She looks healthy. My call is it’s better to take the risk than keep her. If she stays and can’t migrate, she may imprint on us and that may put her in danger.” His gaze shifted to the crowd of people surrounding them.

The swan made up their minds for them by rising. She gave a honking call, then took a running start down the bank, flapped her wings, and flew. The crowd behind them clapped.

Harper stood to watch her. The bird circled twice, then landed on the water, immediately took several drinks, and then preened.

The crowd began to disperse, and she heard several complimentary comments from people as they passed. She spotted Miles standing with Gabby and sent him a relieved smile. He approached her with the dog.

Harper introduced Miles to Charlie, then said, “I appreciate you coming as backup, Charlie.”

“That’s what I do. Not that you needed me.”

“You never told me you were a swan whisperer,” Miles commented.

“I didn’t realize I was. I think she was just so exhausted from fighting the fishing line that she knew she needed help.”

“When she laid her head on your shoulder, I couldn’t believe it. I got some pictures.” He pulled it up on his phone and handed it to her. “I’ll send it to you so you can have a copy and maybe print it.”

Harper studied the picture. He’d zoomed in on her face with the swan’s head on her shoulder. It was a beautiful picture of mutual trust.

“Can I see it?” Charlie asked. He took the phone and looked at the pictures. “That’s truly the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen. That and the fact you didn’t have to secure her in something or strap her.” He handed Miles the phone. “You must have a special gift with animals.”

His comment was light but his eyes focused on her with more interest. Knowing Ben, Charlie was likely one of his special people, and he was wondering if she was too. “Sometimes I’m able to earn their trust. But the fishing line held her in place for me,” Harper said.

“She’ll remember you when you come back to the park. Swans have good memories.”

“That would be nice, but I hope she stays healthy, and after a couple of day’s recovery flies south with the rest of the flock.”

“They’re called a bank when they’re on the ground and a wedge when they’re in flight. I live close by. I’ll swing by tomorrow and check on her for you, if you like,” Charlie said. “I’ll call if she has an issue.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it. I’ll be at work at the Superstition Vet Clinic.”
Teresa J. Reasor. Deep Within The Mind (Kindle Locations 766-818). Teresa J. Reasor. Kindle Edition.

I was pretty impressed with Harper’s skills, swans aren’t known as very friendly birds, but then her gift is helpful there. She’s really hoping her involvement with Miles’ investigation is done, she doesn’t want to tell the detectives about her visions. Unfortunately, that’s not to be and Miles’ reaction is just what she’d expected.

From the start there has been chemistry between Miles and Harper and as the story continues this goes from a simmer to sizzle. The investigation also book just ramps up and there are several twists to keep you guessing right to the end.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J. Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reader to writer came easily and she was a closet novelist for many years until 2007 when her first book was published.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa J. Reasor

Christophe doesn’t want to steal from humans, there is really no challenge in it, he does however have to pay his bills. He notices something about their baby’s health and leaves a note for them.

He shouldn’t have a financial problem, but his manservant Arnold has disappeared and with him all the passwords to his accounts. He knows Arnold is near but he can’t pinpoint where, that in itself is unusual. As he approaches his car he finds out who is responsible for Arnold’s disappearance, the vampire council the question is why.

Zaira O’Shea is a private investigator, her clients witches and shifters, the humans in front of her are a rarity. The Sutherlands want her to find the thief not to punish him but to thank him for saving their daughter. She’s able to find him but he also wants something from her. What she discovers is that they both have an interest in the object the Magic Council has hired her to find.

This is a favorite scene.

“If you’re not going to turn me into the police, perhaps we could go to a coffee shop and have something to drink,” Christophe suggested. Now it was dark, the temperature had dropped, and she looked chilled. The smell of car exhaust from down on the street lingered in the air. “It will give me an opportunity to explain why I stole the jewelry from the Sutherlands, and why I need a witch. And it will give you time to see I’m not the monster you think I am.”

She studied him with a dubious frown. “You were going to bite me, and now you want me to have coffee with you?”

“It was a momentary lapse. I promise not to bite you while you drink your coffee. It would be rude.”

She laughed, then sobered as he strolled forward. The defensive tension built in her body language. In his most soothing voice, he said, “I work with humans all the time and am able to control my,” he grinned, “woo-woo. You needn’t be afraid. We can help each other, perhaps.”

“You steal for a living, and you want me to trust you?”

“I work for a living. I’ve just run up against something untoward and resorted to a little burglary to resolve the issue.”

Her brows rose at that.

He motioned toward the door leading down into the apartment building.

“I’d prefer you go first.”

Trust was going to take some time with this one. It was a shame he couldn’t use his vampire woo-woo on her. He wanted to laugh every time he thought it. Instead, he shrugged and headed for the door.

The Dish wasn’t exactly bustling at almost midnight. Four students were pulling a late-night study session in one of the booths, and a couple had fallen asleep from exhaustion at their tables. The wait staff, used to the last-minute insanity of the semester, worked around them, cleaning up, refilling salt and pepper shakers, and rolling silverware for the next day.

“We don’t have much time. The diner will be closing in half an hour, so I’ll get right to it. A month ago, Arnold, my uncle, disappeared. Someone took him while I was at work. Arnold has been with me for… a very long time. I have trusted him with all my financial issues because he’s more… human, and people are more at ease with him. Everything is direct deposit these days. No one ever hands you a paycheck anymore and says ‘go, you earned it, spend it.’ But when he disappeared, it left me without access to any funds. I didn’t know how much money it would take for me to hire people to help me get him back, so I chose someone I thought could afford a small loss.”

Over her shoulder, he saw Andy Kutzerd, one of his students, swagger into the diner and go to the counter to place an order. He was hard to miss, with his carrot-red hair and six-foot-three frame. He played football on the college team, their star quarterback. Happily, his usual entourage of fellow players and girls were not in attendance.

He knew the kid, since he was in Christophe’s American History class, and unfortunately the booth wasn’t big enough for Christophe to duck out of sight. Andy would be bearing down on them at any moment. Shit. This night was getting more and more interesting. “Excuse me for a moment.” He slid free of the booth and approached the student.

“Hello, Andy.”

“Hey, Professor. How you doin’?”

“I’m fine.”

“Beautiful lady you’re with,” Andy said, his curiosity palpable. “Girlfriend?”

“Hopefully. First date.” It was impossible not to grin at that.

Andy grinned in return. “You know most of your students think you’re gay. There’s rampant interest. Bets and everything going on. You just gave me an edge.”

Christophe shook his head. “Why would my personal life be of interest to the student body?”

“Well, all the girls flock around you after class, but you never show any interest, even when they go into overdrive and try to vamp you. And you do live with that older dude.”

Christophe coughed to cover his single bark of laughter at the vamp comment. “That older dude is my uncle.” Or at least that was the cover he and Arnold both used when questions were raised about their living arrangement. “And I don’t show interest in the ladies in class because it’s against university policy to date students. And they’re much too young for me.”

“Policy is policy, but if I had that kind of interest…” Andy peeked around Christophe’s shoulder again, then shrugged one massive, muscular shoulder.

“You’d be out of a job. And I’m rather attached to mine. It pays the bills.”

Andy grinned. “Point taken, Professor. But you have a stronger will than I have.”

Or maybe he was just getting old. Hell, he was old. He bit back a sigh.

“Is there something I can do for you?” Andy asked.

“Yes, there is.” Christophe debated with himself about how much to affect the student’s memory. He decided to give him a gentle nudge, gazed into the man’s eyes, and projected his will. “Stay here at the counter and give us some privacy.”

“Sure thing, Professor,” Andy nodded.

Christophe wandered back to the table.

“Afraid I’ll figure out where you work?” she asked as soon as he sat down.

“You’ll figure it out soon enough. My name is Christophe, but you may call me Chris if you like.” He offered his hand.

She hesitated then accepted it, shook it briefly and said, “Zaira.” She twisted her coffee cup around in a circle. “Why don’t you continue with what you were saying?”

“I’ve been tracking Arnold for a month, but every time I get close, they move him before I can reach him. It has to be witches.”

“Why would they take him?”

Christophe shoved a hand through his hair, pushing back his curly locks. If he told her too much, she wouldn’t help him. If he told her too little, it would put her in danger. “To force me to do something I don’t want to do. They’re holding Arnold hostage until I do it.”

“What is it they’ve asked you to do?”

“I can’t tell you what it is.”

“Have you done it yet?”

“No. But if I can free Arnold and get him somewhere safe, I can tell them to go stake themselves.”

“If you can’t get him to safety, what then?”

“I’ll have to do what they’ve demanded. Or they’ll kill him.”

“Why do you think witches are holding him?”

“Vampires can run very fast, making it appear as though we get from point A to point B in a matter of seconds. Arnold is very old, but he’s still human. He wouldn’t be able to run. And his position change is instantaneous.”

“Like a witch teleporting?”

“Yes.”

She was silent for a long moment.

He stared at the small crease between her auburn brows in fascination. Her eyes were hazel, a blend of green and brown, with touches of blue around the iris. Her skin was almost as pale as his, but flawless, and it had the warmth of the living to give it more glow. A tender blush rose to her cheeks, telling him she’d noticed his masculine interest.

“I’ll come in and meet with the Sutherlands under a disguise spell, if you’ll help me get Arnold back, and I’ll pay you whatever fee you decide is fair. I can narrow it down to his general area, but you’ll have to locate him. Then you can teleport me to the location before they can escape with him.”

“It would be easier if I could go in alone. If you come with me, they may sense you before we arrive.”

“It’s too dangerous for you to go in alone. You won’t be dealing with witches alone. There are vampires involved. With both working together… it would be too risky.”

“I’ve never known vampires and witches to work together. What could be so important they’d agree to do that?”

Christophe swore, his gaze latching onto the two vampires entering the diner. “We need to go.” He grasped her wrist and slid out of the booth fast, pausing to toss a bill on their table. She tensed in resistance until she looked over her shoulder and saw the two large vampires bearing down on them.

“Hold onto me,” she demanded, grasping his jacket.

Christophe slipped his arms around her waist and held her tight against him. He experienced the sensation of flying, but he was blind to where they were going.

He staggered back against a wall as they came to a halt inside an office, his hands sliding down over her firm, delectable bottom.

Zaira, unbalanced, leaned against him, her head tucked beneath his chin. His heart was actually beating from the magic she’d expelled… or was it her breasts pressing against his ribs, or the elemental scent she emitted, a blend of cinnamon, woman, and ozone?

It had been a long time. And he was dead, not blind or numb.
Teresa J. Reasor. Have Wand, Will Travel (The Complete Boxset) (Kindle Locations 428-499). Teresa J. Reasor.

The funny thing is that although they both have problems with their respective councils. Neither one of them want to relinquish the object to them.

A fun read with laughter, suspense and sizzle!

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Phoebe is to marry Trevor at the behest of her sire Arthur. It’s a political move to join two clans together. She doesn’t trust Trevor and really doesn’t like him at all. Her instincts are proven correct when he poisons her during their wedding ceremony.

Hunter is investigating for the Vampire Council and Roger Haines who handles vampire affairs for Have Wand Will Travel has asked him to take over Phoebe’s case. Their first meeting is interesting to say the least.

This is a favorite scene.

“Tell me about your— fiancé.” He was strangely reluctant to call the man her husband.

“I underestimated him. I thought he was just a self-absorbed weenie, but instead he was a treacherous, murderous asshole.”

She had a right to be angry, but it wouldn’t help Hunter build a case. “Tell me about him, where he might go, what he might do, now he’s on the run from his clan and most other vamps.”

“I don’t really know him. We only met twenty-four hours before the ceremony. I’m not old enough to rise early during the day, so we only spoke for about two hours the night before the wedding. He and his sire Armanno Ricci and Arthur spent most of the night in the library hammering out some last-minute changes to the contract.” She shot him a wry smile. “It was supposed to quell the violence between our clans.”

“I see. How did you feel about the marriage?”

She remained silent for several moments. “Arthur is my sire, and he was doing what he thought best for our clan.”

Meaning she hadn’t been happy with the arrangement, but she wasn’t going to say anything negative about her sire. But he sensed pain behind the care she took choosing her words.

“And Trevor? How did he seem?”

“He was gaining control of a third of his sire’s territory. I thought he was pleased with the deal.”

“What can you tell me about him?”

“He looks thirty. He’s fifty years older than I am, which makes him about a hundred. He spoke of finishing his degree long after his transition so he could help Ricci with his business interests. They’ve been together since before he was turned. He can ride horseback. Likes to go for moonlight swims.”

Hunter raised a brow at that.

Phoebe grinned as though sharing a joke, and for a moment he saw the vibrant young vampire behind the illness. And she was very, very ill.

She sipped more blood before setting the cup aside. “He thought I’d find it romantic. He also mentioned some friends. I met one of them. His name is Randal Hawkins. The other is Jack Kinney, who plays poker for a living.”

“You learned all that in two hours?”

She shrugged. “He was eager to talk about himself and his friends. I’m a good listener when I feel I need to be. Also, I read Arthur’s in-depth dossier on him.”

“And you?”

“I wasn’t interested in sharing. This was a business deal between my sire and his. It was never meant to be a real marriage. It was never going to be a marriage, as far as I was concerned. But Ricci and Trevor got greedy. With my death, they’ll be one step closer to taking over the whole southeast territory.

“My clan won’t sit back and wait. Violence will become a way of life, and the whole area may explode, because the clan will think it’s mandatory to seek vengeance for my death. Which means humans may be dragged into it. Other species.”

“Unless your clan gets Ricci first.”

“Arthur had a chance. He chose to save me instead. He has a sense of the big picture when others see only the wealth and power gained by being the leader of such a huge territory. He views wiping out an entire clan as genocide, and wants to avoid it if possible.”

He’d never heard such a claim. “Forgive me, but I’ve never met an altruistic vampire. Most are solely involved in their own small corner of the world.”

She shot him a narrow-eyed look. “Arthur is eight hundred years old. He’s seen war, pestilence, and hardship. He wants what’s best for our species. If we mean to survive, we need to learn to blend into the rest of society instead of hiding. Meet with him and let him tell you himself. But you might want to do so quickly.” She struggled to her feet and gripped the edge of the desk.

Hunter rushed with vampiric speed to her side. He rested one hand against the small of her back while the other caught and held her arm to steady her. She smelled of orange blossoms. The feminine feel of her curves triggered an electric rush of awareness. She was smaller than he first thought, possibly only a hundred and fifteen pounds. The three-inch heels on her boots made her seem taller, but it couldn’t add any bulk to her slender frame.

“I’m fine.” She seemed more embarrassed than upset by the momentary weakness. She tilted her head back to look up at him, and their eyes locked.

Her unusual violet eyes darkened, then dropped away, her throat working as she swallowed. “I don’t have time to waste. I’ve already started a search for Trevor myself, so if you’re going to help me, you need to do it quickly.”

She shifted away, and he released her.

“I’m aware of the time issue. And you said if. I thought the whole point of this interview was for me to work for you.”

The distrust in her expression was open. “I don’t know who you work for, Mr. Knox, but I know it’s not just another private detective agency.”

He canted his head in surprise. “Why do you say that?”

“You’re wearing a three-thousand-dollar suit, and the Jaguar you drive is worth close to seventy thousand. I watched you pull up in it. You couldn’t afford either one on a PI’s salary.”

She was no naïve, protected, adopted daughter of a wealthy Master Vampire. The shrewd suspicion in her gaze almost triggered a smile. “I’m independently wealthy, Ms. Stewart.” Which wasn’t a lie. “I do what I do because it’s a challenge, and I enjoy helping people get the justice they deserve.”

“The stakes for this investigation are higher than just stolen property or a missing person.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Mr. Haines is investigating what happened at the wedding for the local Vampire Council.”

“I’m sure there’s nothing to be worried about.”

“I’m not worried. Harry Adcock is a fool and a coward. When the fighting broke out, the old buzzard ran and hid. As far as I’m concerned, he can take a flying leap onto a sharp stake, ass first.”

“Since he’s a member of the Vampire Council, you may want to be careful of what you say about him.”

“If I live, he may want to be careful. I have video of him standing directly behind Trevor while he prepared to stake me. Adcock ran away even though he had an opportunity to help. He’d better think long and hard about this. If he pushes it, I’ll release that video, and I’ll own his position on the Council.”

Hunter struggled between a sense of outrage on her behalf and amusement. Even ill, she had more passion and strength than Adcock, who was hundreds of years old. “I hope you’ve shared the video with Roger.”

“Yes. I have. When would you like to speak with Arthur?”

“Tomorrow night, if possible.”

“Do you have a card? I’ll have him call you and set up a time.”

“Certainly.” He slipped a business card out of the inner pocket of his suit jacket and handed it to her. It had nothing on it but his name and number. She tucked it into her jeans pocket and bent to retrieve a motorcycle helmet off the floor. She held it against her hip under her arm, and he stepped back to make room for her to slip out from behind the desk. “May I see your neck?”

She tilted her head and tugged the turtleneck down, baring her throat. The fang marks hadn’t healed, and the bruise covered an area from her jaw to her collarbone.

Concern pinched him. There was no substance he knew of that could cause such damage. If the flesh started rotting… She wouldn’t be able to recover. Rage fired through him at the deliberate cruelty of what had been done. He fought the urge to draw her close.

“I thought Trevor was just wiping away the blood from his bite. He rubbed poison into the wound with his thumb. It will not heal.”

He swallowed back his anger with difficulty while trying to keep his expression neutral. “Would you be open to having a physician I know examine you?”

Those violet eyes scanned his face again. “Yes.”

“Good. I’ll set it up right away.” He was reluctant to let her go. Someone might be impatient for her to die and try to hurry things along out in the parking lot. “I’ll see you out.”

They walked down the hall to the waiting area. The PI agency’s receptionist, Calamity, rose. As usual, her pale blonde hair tumbled around her shoulders in disarray, but she seemed well organized.

“It was good to see you again, Phoebe,” she said. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

Phoebe paused to give her a nod. “I appreciate the offer. Let me know the next time you do an evening youth seminar, and I’ll help out.”

The young witch’s eyes glazed with tears for a moment before she regained control. “Thanks, I will.”
Teresa J. Reasor. Have Wand, Will Travel (The Complete Boxset) (Kindle Locations 2063-2127). Teresa J. Reasor.

Phoebe has a secret or two but the focus is on finding Trevor and getting the antidote to the poison. She doesn’t have long and Hunter is determined to save her life.

A race against time, a romance that kindles and some sizzle as well.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Professor Madeline Montgomery is teaching a class of adults who have trouble controlling their magic. Overall she’s pleased with the progress they’ve made, but two of them, Gregor and Harry are still having issues. There is always a price to be paid with magic and when she feels that boomerang effect start she contains it until she can speak to the two of them so they understand how it’s supposed to work and then she’ll release the magical karma. It’s that action that has her called to the Dean’s office where she gets angry enough to quit her job of over fifty years.

Jake Cunningham has a reputation and he’s also been cursed. He’s a witch but has mostly stayed in the human world, not bother to anything but things of protection. He’s borrowed money from women and yes he’s behind in paying them back, but he honestly intends to do so. The reason he’s been borrowing is to maintain Gee Gee, his great grandmother’s home. It’s been in the family for centuries and it’s thanks to his late mother’s spending habits, deeply in debt. He logs into Witchbook and looks thorough the profiles for someone he might be compatible with and decides on a teacher. Only it’s not the teacher who meets with him it’s her over the top mother. Apparently Madeline didn’t put the profile up, her mother did on her behalf, without her knowledge. It has to stay that way and what she’s offering is something he can’t turn down.

There’s also Tatiana Smirnov who’s got a vendetta going against him. This last encounter as he left Madeline’s mother gave him the reason to accept Roz’s proposal. Tatiana has threatened not only him but Gee Gee. He’s going to ask Madeline for help with his witchcraft.

When he finds Madeline is no longer with the university he goes to her home. Her reception was friendly and she agrees to help him, but not until she organizes the mess she brought home with her. Jake offers assistance in the form of boxes first then furniture. The furniture becomes a bit of an adventure.

This is a favorite scene.

Whatever happened at the college, it had been sudden and catastrophic. Her eyes were still red from crying, and she looked so damn vulnerable when she opened the door, he almost backed off the porch and told her he had the wrong address.

Leaving her just now had saved him from moving too quickly, though he’d wanted to hold her and help her release all the emotion she continued to hold in check. But he was a stranger, and if he’d obeyed his impulse, she would have been embarrassed afterwards.

He shoved aside an antique sideboard possibly two hundred years old, a chair upholstered in needlepoint, and a huge leather chair that probably cost thousands. His family had been hoarding this kind of stuff for years.

He scanned the basement for the boxes, and as soon as he spotted them, teleported to them rather than fight his way through the junk. He shook them to make sure they were empty, then stacked them one inside the other. With both hands full, he teleported back to her house.

Madeline was sitting in the floor stacking books into subject matter.

“You’re going to need some bookcases for those. We have some of those in our basement as well.”

She actually laughed. “It sounds like your basement is a treasure trove.”

“It is.” Inspiration struck. “Would you like to come with me and check it out?” He offered his hand.

She studied his face through glasses that made her green eyes look huge, but the speculation in her gaze surprised him. She could rip him to shreds and put him back together, she was that powerful. He could feel her power surging beneath the surface every time she got upset.

She took his hand, and he helped her rise. In a blink they were back in the basement. He flipped on more lights, which only served to make the packed space looked worse.

“Wow!” Her eyes widened, looking even larger.

“That isn’t exactly what I said when I first saw it.”

She laughed.

“What would anyone want with two full-sized, stuffed polar bears?” He pointed to them. One bear peered over the top of everything stacked in front of him, while the other poked her head around a stacked mattress and box spring set. “Don’t tell anyone we have them. We’d have animal rights groups protesting on the front lawn.”

“Poor things. They both look a little miserable, don’t they?”

“You want to take them home and keep them company, they’re yours,” he teased.

“You could donate them to the zoo.”

“Hey, that’s a good idea. I’ll check into it.” He pointed toward the west corner. “I think the bookcases were propped against that far wall. If you’ll trust me to get you there, we’ll go check them out.”

“Since you know where you’re going.” This time she grasped his hand, and he smiled. They were there in a blink.

The solid wood bookshelves had a thick coat of dust on them. Grabbing a sheet off of a piece of furniture, Jake wiped it away so she could see the finish on them.

“These are beautiful and very well built. Solid Wood. I love the edging around the corners of the shelves.” She touched the decorative trim.

“Thanks. I built them a long time ago.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “You did?”

“Yeah. I like to work with my hands, and you can’t do everything with magic.”

“That’s what I keep telling people. How much would you want for them?”

“A trade. You help me protect Gee Gee, and they’re yours.”

“I was going to help you anyway.”

“I know, but I didn’t expect you to do it without being paid. There might be a desk around here, too. Let’s look around some more.”

It was like a treasure hunt. He’d never dreamed there was so much stuff hidden down in the depths of the house. He even found some pieces he could use in his bedroom and the study upstairs, and he teleported them to both rooms.

Madeline held up an old, rusty cauldron. “You may need this, if you don’t have one.”

“There’s one in the kitchen that’s in better shape.”

He glanced up to find her approaching the polar bears slowly, as though she expected the male to swipe her with one of his huge paws.

He teleported to her. “What’s wrong?”

“These aren’t just stuffed polar bears.”

“What do you mean?”

“They aren’t stuffed. They’re frozen in place, and have been for a very long time.”

The realization that someone had done such a thing to live creatures hollowed Jake’s belly. “We have to do something to release them.”

“We’ll have to have them in the right place before we can do it. Polar bears aren’t exactly cuddly, and they might be a bit angry after all this time.”

“Gee-Gee might know who’s responsible.”

The hand she ran over the animal’s side appeared delicate and fine-boned. “Whoever did it was very powerful. And it was a long time ago.”

“So their family would be dead now.”

“I’m not sure polar bears have families. I think the males wander, hunting for females and food.”

“Not so different from the human or witch races.” He earned a grin for his self-depreciating humor.

Outrage still tugged at him. He knew what it was like to live with a curse. But at least he was free to live. “Do you think you can free them if I find out who did it?”

“Yes. I’ll have to break the spell, and knowing something about why and how it happened would go a long way toward helping me figure it out.”

Jake swiped the screen of his cell phone, called his grandmother, and reached her voice mail. He left a message about the bears.

Studying the huge, hulking creatures, beautiful and fearsome, he realized he’d probably never have another opportunity to be this close or touch one again. He rested a hand on the bear’s side.

The distinct scent of fish wafted off the animal, and his fur felt surprisingly warm. A vibration beneath his hand telegraphed a deep growl that filled the basement.

“Jake…” Madeline gripped his arm.

With no warning a large paw slammed into his chest, and he flew across the basement like a shuttlecock. He crashed through a rack packed with old clothes and coats.

Madeline! Gasping for air, he threw aside the leather coat covering his face and smelling of mothballs and staggered to his feet. The metal rack was bent around one leg, and he stumbled, but caught himself with his fingertips and bobbed back up, posed to jump back into the fray.

The Bear loomed motionless over Madeline, his dark brown gaze drilling down at her with bloodthirsty intent, his snout wrinkled into a snarl, baring teeth that could easily rip the meat off her bones. Madeline teleported a few feet closer to the stairs. But instead of following her, the bear homed in on his mate. He reared up, crashed through the furniture and boxes separating them, and started humping her.

Jake teleported to Madeline. “Don’t look.” He threw up a hand, blocking her view. It was bad enough for the thing to wake up horny, but to hump his frozen girlfriend… He teleported to the bear and, using an umbrella shoved against the animals shoulder. “Hey, Horny.”

The bear roared and lumbered toward Jake as he backed down the narrow path they’d cleared while they looked through the furniture. As soon as the bear got close, Jake popped farther away, guiding him toward the stairs. Jake teleported to the top of the stairs and opened the door.

Madeline teleported to him. “Are you okay?”

Except for being a little breathless… “We’ll talk about it after we get rid of our friend.”

The roar at the bottom of the steps practically shook the house off its foundation. The wooden steps squeaked and popped beneath the huge animal’s weight. He climbed toward them, his claws gouging the wood with each step.

“We need to go,” Jake urged, grabbing Madeline’s arm and tugging her out into the hall. He rushed to open the front door.

“We can’t turn him lose in the neighborhood to eat someone’s pet or child.”

“What do you suggest we do?”

“Take him home.”

“You mean Canada or Alaska? That’s thousands of miles away, and he has to weigh at least a thousand pounds.”

“I’m always up for a challenge.”

He found that more than a little interesting. “We’d have to touch him to transport him.”

“Wait until he’s out in the hall, and we’ll teleport behind him.”

The animal’s huge black nose poked free of the doorway, and he lumbered out into the hall. His low, rumbling growl rolled out, echoing in the space.

Jake glanced at Madeline. “Now.”

They both landed behind the animal. Jake sunk his fingers into the animal’s fur.

The bear grew hard as wood, frozen in place again. Madeline looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. “Thank the Goddess. We need to figure out what triggered his reanimation. In the meantime, stay away from the other bear.”

No shit. “No problem.” He braced his hands on his knees and drew a cleansing breath that hurt all the way in, then out.

“Let me see your chest, Jake,” she said, her expression serious.

He unbuttoned the top of his shirt to see what damage had been done. A reddish-purple bruise the size of a dinner plate was already forming.
Teresa J. Reasor. Have Wand, Will Travel (The Complete Boxset) (Kindle Locations 4211-4288). Teresa J. Reasor.

This is a fun and romantic read, with some interesting twists and turns. These two are really meant for each other and the attraction sizzles off the pages.

I truly enjoyed this trilogy and I hope you will too.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J. Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reader to writer came easily and she was a closet novelist for many years until 2007 when her first book was published.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa Reasor

Navy SEAL Gage Fontenot is home for the first time in two years because his grandmother, who raised him, is in the hospital after a brutal assault. He has four weeks to get the lay of the land, find who’s responsible, and guarantee the attacker gets the punishment he deserves. When he’s met at the airport by Mia, the woman he jilted six years ago, his visit becomes much more complicated. Because his reasons for leaving New Orleans all lead back to her.

Psychic Mia Blanchard knows there’s always a price to pay for the best things in life, but she’s shocked by the dramatic change in Gage. Gone is the lighthearted Cajun who played guitar in the New Orleans clubs. What has happened to make him cut himself off from his home and family? She needs to find out, because she can’t move on until she puts their past behind her.

But there is more than their personal history in play. She sees danger ahead for them both. But Gage never believed in her gift in the past. How can she convince him to trust it now?

Mia Blanchard has visions and this book opens with one that saves her ex’s grandmother. She has no control over them, and sometimes they are the past others the future. The visions can be triggered by touch so she avoids situations requiring it but this one came as a dream or rather a nightmare.

Gage Fontenot was forced to leave town to save his brother Decker from jail and himself from being framed. He worked on an oil rig before joining the Navy and becoming a SEAL. He’s only snuck home to see his grandmother a couple of times and didn’t stay long. This time he’s going to be here a month. His grandmother needs him and his brother Roman can’t do as much as he’d like and Decker isn’t very reliable.

It’s Mia that Roman asks to pick Gage up at the airport. At one point in time Mia and Gage had plans to leave New Orleans and build something together. It took Mia a long time to come to terms with Gage leaving, but she did what she set out to do, go to college and build a successful business.

This is a favorite scene.

His brother Roman concentrated on his family, which was what he should be doing. Decker…Gage was never sure about Decker, other than he’d been a fuckup since he was twelve. And caused Mama and his brothers more trouble than he was worth. Gage tried hard not to harbor any anger or resentment about that, but if he was honest with himself, some still lingered.

His phone rang, and he paused to pull it out and check the screen.

Roman. He hit accept and put the phone to his ear. “Hey, where are you?”

“Sorry I couldn’t leave work to pick you up,” Roman said. “So I sent a friend of Mama’s. I’m giving you the number. Your ride’s parked in short-term parking and wil swing by and pick you up as soon as they get your text.”

A friend of Mama’s could mean anyone. She attracted people to her like ants to a picnic. Her generosity, her kindness, her love, just drew them right in.

He wouldn’t be the only one to feel the loss if she didn’t make it.

He shifted his attention to finding his way through new airport terminal and decided it was like walking through the interior of a spacecraft with its huge support posts, skylights and curved rooflines.

Even the restaurants’ interiors were ultramodern, though when he looked at the daily specials posted, it appeared they still served traditional New Orleans food.

He strode out from beneath the second floor to the north entrance and looked down the curved bank of windows along the length of the structure. It was impressive, but nothing like the old terminal. And where the hell was Louis Armstrong? The statue was nowhere in sight.

Stepping out the front doors onto the sidewalk, he paused beneath the awning that curved along the wall of glass behind him to lower his sea bag to the concrete and lean it against his leg. He pulled out his phone and shot off a brief text. I’m outside the terminal.

The answer was just as brief. Be there ASAP.

Three or four minutes passed before a dark maroon Mitsubishi swung around the curved drive, the sun glancing off the windshield making it impossible to see who was behind the wheel. The car pulled to a stop beside him, and a woman got out and walked around the back of the vehicle. “Hello, Gage.”

Seeing her again landed a solid punch, first to his gut, then higher up. He dredged up a reply from his addled brain. “Thanks for coming to pick me up.”

She hadn’t changed at all. She still looked like a gypsy, with her yard of dark, curly hair falling down her back. Large, black-lashed, pale green eyes and high cheekbones lent drama to a heart-shaped face blessed with a bow-shaped mouth, currently darkened by a shade of lipstick that fell somewhere between red and plum.

She meant trouble with a capital T. She was the reason he left New Orleans and his family behind.

Did she know?

Had her mother told her what her family did to him? Probably not. Camille Blanchard viewed everything under her control as a possession. Even her daughter. If he’d had money, she’d have welcomed him with open arms. Because he didn’t, she wanted his Cajun ass gone before he got her daughter pregnant. Or worse, talked her into marriage.

Which was exactly where they’d been heading.

Mia raised the hatch. He lifted his sea bag, tossed it in, and closed the hatch—and in that split second decided her face wasn’t the only thing that hadn’t changed. She was still slender as a dancer. And dressed for business in a hip-hugging skirt the color of a ripe peach, a colorful silk blouse of muted pastels, and a jacket the exact shade of her skirt. When they were both in the car, she asked, “Do you want to go straight to the hospital? Or do you want to get something to eat first?”

“Hospital. I need to see Mama.” If she died before he got to see her, he’d never forgive himself.

She pulled out into the slow-moving sporadic traffic circling away from the airport. “You need to prepare yourself for how Mama looks.

She was beaten and strangled, and her face is still very swollen and bruised.”

“Roman told me.” But Gage was almost more worried about something Roman hadn’t said.

“She wasn’t… They didn’t…”

“No, she wasn’t raped.”

He unclenched his hands, which had automatically balled into fists.

At least Mama was spared that. But knowing didn’t make him feel any better. “How did you get involved in this?”

“I found her.”

Jesus! “How?”

She was silent for a long moment. “It’s going to sound crazy, but I woke in the middle of the night after a terrible dream with an overwhelming need to check on Mama. So I drove to her house. The front door was nearly closed, but not completely shut. When I knocked, it swung open. I went in, turning on lights and calling her name. I found her in her bed, and at first I thought… But then she… sucked in a breath and I knew she was still alive. I called an ambulance and the police.”

“You took a dangerous chance, going into the house without backup.”

“I didn’t sense anyone there. Not even Mama.”

Angered by her reckless behavior, he said, “If the attacker had still been in there, you could have been killed, Mia.”

She continued to focus on the traffic and her voice never changed tone. “She might have died if I hadn’t found her and called as quickly as I did, Gage.”

He fisted his hands against his knee-jerk reply to her calm verbal slap. He hadn’t been with her fifteen minutes, and he was attacking her…for saving Mama’s life.

In fact, it was she who probably deserved to be attacking him.

After all, he walked away from her after delivering the harshest of goodbyes, leaving her high and dry to pick up the pieces. He was surprised she was even speaking to him.

He hadn’t really been given a choice. Her showing up so unexpectedly had triggered his guilt. And the festering rage toward her brother and mother he couldn’t shake. Didn’t want to.

The two of them cost him everything. And he would never forgive them for it.

He needed to calm the fuck down and use his brain instead of lashing out at Mia. Her indirect link to what had happened wasn’t grounds for his attitude. Even though he’d been forced away from his family, and his life had evolved in different directions than he intended, there was no way he could change anything now.

Being a SEAL had definitely been a different direction, and he was on a good course with his career. His teammates were like family. And he loved what he did. He rubbed his hand over the thick scruff on his jaw. He glanced at her. He had to concentrate on the here and now and forget the past. “I appreciate what you did for her that night.”

“I care about her. She and my grandmother have become good friends, and I go by twice a week to check on her.”

This awkward tension between them knotted his shoulders and he looked away. “She’s never mentioned that to me.” The moment he said it, he realized it sounded like an accusation.

Mia bit her lip and remained silent. She turned off of I-10 toward the hospital, pulled up to the front entrance of the hospital, and told him which tower and floor Mama was on. “Why don’t I drop your bag at Mama’s? I doubt the hospital staff will allow you on the floor with it.” “I didn’t mean that how it sounded, Mia.”

“Yes, you did.” Her glare was hot with temper, her winglike brows drawn tight with it. “You were the one who broke things off and walked away six years ago, Gage. If guilt is what’s driving this, that’s on you.” Her tone turned cutting. “I don’t deserve your hostility, and I won’t put up with it.”

She revved the Mitsubishi’s engine. “You’ll have to catch an Uber or a cab to get to Mama’s after you’ve finished visiting. I’ve already been away from my business long enough.” She picked up a key from the cup holder in the console and held it out it to him.

He clenched the key in his fist, oddly relieved because she dressed him down. Up until this point, her nonconfrontational behavior made him wonder if she’d lost her spirit. “You could come in with me.”

“No, I’ll visit later.”

Her tone said after you’re gone.

“You’re not family,” he said. “ICU won’t allow you to visit.”

“You were gone, Gage. Your brother Roman is married and has family to take care of, and Decker—is Decker. You didn’t just leave me. You left Mama, too. As far as the staff here is concerned, I’m part of her family. I’ll come any time I please to visit her. Now get out. I’m ready to leave.”

He laid his hand on her arm for a moment because he just had to touch her.

Mia bit her lip and looked away.

“Thanks for everything you did for Mama, and thanks for the ride.” He got out of the car and shut the door. With eyes straight ahead, she pulled away from the curb and circled away from the hospital.
Teresa Reasor. Hot SEAL, Midnight Magic (Kindle Locations 119-172). Kindle Edition.

It seems fate is going to throw Mia and Gage together.

Mia gets a threatening package, followed by a vision at her mother’s dinner party. The person her mother was looking to set her up with is bad news indeed.

Gage senses he’s being followed, and Mia has a vision involving him. Her friend Jules a detective will be instrumental in solving all the incidents both past and present.

There’s plenty of ups and downs, some twists, topped off with romance and sizzling heat.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J. Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reader to writer came easily and she was a closet novelist for many years until 2007 when her first book was published.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa Reasor

After nine years of marriage to a Navy SEAL Zoe Yazzie knows about sacrifice. Because of numerous periods of separation from her husband she’s put her dream of having another child on the back burner. But now her biological clock is ticking and she needs Hawk’s cooperation.

Lieutenant Commander Adam “Hawk” Yazzie is stunned when his wife springs the idea of having a baby on him. Their son will soon be ten and Hawk believes their baby days are over. He’s faced with a dilemma, if he says no and crushes Zoe’s dream, will it cause long term harm to their marriage?

When Zoe is injured in a terrible car accident, the decision is put on hold while they wait for her to wake up. Hawk is faced with the possibility that his wife might not survive. But when she finally opens her eyes, he’s dealt an unthinkable blow. Zoe doesn’t remember him or their life together.

There are a number of things happening in this book. First we have Lieutenant Commander Hawk Yazzie who has a problem with Seaman Owen Morgan. Owen seems to be on a self destructive path since he returned from deployment to find his best friend died on a mission and to top it off his wife left him.

Then there’s Hawk’s wife Zoe, she’s thinking about possibly having another baby, their son A.J. is ten and really doesn’t need her as much anymore. She doesn’t have much time to consider this but she does have to discuss it with Hawk and get his feelings on another child at this stage of their lives. After all he was deployed through most of raising A.J. and only with this new promotion is he going to be stateside.

We have Lt. Sam Harding and his fiancé Moira planning their wedding. He’s keeping the fact that one of his team died on their last mission from her not wanting to take away from the joy of the occasion.

Everything starts falling apart from the moment Zoe heads out to get drinks and snacks for A.J.’s ball team. It’s last minute and her car has a flat so she takes Hawk’s SUV. A crash Zoe tried so hard to avoid leads to her having head trauma with memory loss. She remembers nothing of her life with Hawk, not even A.J. her son.

This is a favorite scene when Zoe comes home from the hospital.

Hawk poured a glass of cold, sweet tea from the pitcher in the refrigerator, added two fingers of bourbon to the mixture and squeezed in the juice of a lemon wedge. Drinking had rarely been his thing, other than a cold beer after a mission, but the stress of the day had brought on a craving. Now that A. J. was in bed and the house was quiet, he was just grateful to settle into the glider on the sunporch to unwind.

Ten days ago he would have talked to Zoe about the accident. But now, with everything she was going through, he wasn’t certain she was strong enough to hear the things the detectives told him. Someone had deliberately shoved the car out into traffic so she’d be hit. Did they know who she was? Had they believed he was at the wheel? Surely they could see it was a woman driving even from behind.

Who would have a motive to do this? He needed to work the problem.

Half an hour later he was still doing that when he heard a sound in the kitchen and got up to look in.

Zoe stuck the plate her mother had covered for her in the microwave and turn it on. When she noticed him standing in the doorway, she offered him a small smile. “Hey.”

Sleep pants hung low on her hips, emphasizing how much weight she’d lost in the past ten days. Her T-shirt had a cartoon on the front of a television remote that read, your remote does not qualify as an exercise machine.

“Wake up hungry?” he asked.

“Yeah.” “You slept for nearly three hours.”

“They don’t let anyone rest in the hospital. They woke me up at midnight, three, and six to take my blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. Then just when I finally went back to sleep, they’d come in to do something else. Then there’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and in between the vampires— sorry, lab techs— drawing blood, and the cleaning crew taking care of the room, and respiratory therapy wanting you to breathe into a machine to make sure you don’t develop pneumonia because you’re lying around too much…” She shrugged one shoulder “You get the picture.”

The microwave dinged, and she went to a drawer, got a potholder, and reached in for the plate. She set it on the island and stared at the potholder like it was something totally foreign.

“What is it?”

“Russell says that muscle memory is why I know where things are in the kitchen.”

He looked from her to the potholder. “Could be. Don’t push yourself, Zoe. Your body’s telling you, you need to rest to heal.”

She set aside the potholder and looked up. “I suppose so. I’m not used to waiting to do anything anymore.”

Hawk leaned against the door facing and sipped his drink. “No, but you’re really good at explaining to other people why they need to be patient.”

“Am I?” She took a bite of her Chinese.

“Yeah, you are. The people you work with at Balboa told me that.”

She chewed, then swallowed. “I want to see them. Talk to them. Maybe it will jar a memory since I spend significant time there. Russell said something about muscle memory triggering other things. And my work is a kind of repetitive muscle memory.”

“We’ll call and talk to your boss. It might be overwhelming for you to talk to too many people at once.” And embarrassing and upsetting if she couldn’t remember them.

“Can we do it tomorrow?”

“Zoe, I’d like for you to do it at a time when I can go with you, and I can’t make it tomorrow.”

“When?” She took another bite and chewed slowly.

“Maybe next week.”

She ate in silence for a time, then wiped her mouth with a napkin and carried her empty plate to the sink, rinsed it, and loaded it into the dishwasher.

Her silence wasn’t encouraging, but as much as he wanted to protect her, he needed to tell her about the detectives’ visit. “There’s something else I need to talk to you about.”

“What is it?”

“Two detectives have been assigned to investigate the accident.”

“Detectives? Aren’t accidents usually investigated by a special accident recreation expert?”

“Usually, but the truck that hit you had been stolen during a carjacking, and the man who owned the truck was killed.” He wouldn’t tell her that she’d been pursued for several minutes before the accident. “It was determined that the person driving the truck purposely pushed your SUV out into the middle of traffic.”

“Pushed me out into traffic?”

“Yes.”

“Why would anyone do that?”

“They don’t know yet. They asked if there were any neighbors we’ve had a falling-out with, or if there was any reason for someone to follow or attack either of us. We’ve never had issues with anyone in the neighborhood since we’ve lived here. The police will be questioning the people you work with at the hospital to find out if they’re aware of any issues. NCIS will be asking the personnel who’ve had issues with me some questions as well.

“Since you were driving my car instead of your own, they’ll probably be following through with some of the guys on post.”

“Why was I driving your car?”

“You ran over a six-inch piece of metal and had a flat. We’d all slept in and were running late, so you took my car to go to the grocery. I was changing the flat to the temporary tire when the hospital called.”

“The police detectives brought your purse to me at the office. I’ve put your cell phone, sunglasses and the purse on the dresser in our bedroom. I think the charger for your phone is in the nightstand.”

“Thanks.”

He was used to doing things for her without the barrier a thank-you threw up between them. It made them seem like strangers.

He’d shared a bed with her for ten years, and the loss of that closeness set off an ache every time he touched it, like a bruise that wouldn’t heal. The distance he read in her eyes…

He jerked his thoughts away from that and moved to the refrigerator, poured more sweet tea in his glass, then added a splash of bourbon, and a lemon wedge.

“Do you drink often?”

“No. A beer now and then. An occasional glass of wine with you at dinner when it’s just the two of us. We don’t usually drink anything but tea around A. J.” He turned to look at her. “I’m not likely to get drunk on two cocktails with barely an ounce of bourbon in each.”

“Can I have a sip?”

Surprised he studied her. “Only a sip. You just got out of the hospital today.” He extended the glass.

Zoe took a sip, held it in her mouth, swallowed, then grimaced. “That is— terrible.”

Hawk laughed.

“Want to sit out on the glider for a little while?”

“Sure.”
Teresa J. Reasor. Building Family (Kindle Locations 1486-1541). Teresa J. Reasor.

While Zoe has much to remember, she’s also trying to rebuild her life. Her body remembers Hawk, but her mind doesn’t and it’s frustrating for her.

There’s also the arrest of Sam’s father for embezzlement and murder, although the don’t have much evidence on the murder part.

As if there wasn’t enough going on, the money from the fundraiser Moira did for her school is gone and several people are suspected.

This is an edge of your seat read as everything starts to intertwine. With suspense, intrigue, laughter, tears and some sizzle.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J. Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reader to writer came easily and she was a closet novelist for many years until 2007 when her first book was published.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa Reasor

Sleeping with a man before getting to know him isn’t the greatest blueprint for building a relationship.

But after being celibate for so long, when lightning strikes, redhead, Moira McKee, embraces being impetuous for once in her life and decides to ride it. Even if Navy SEAL, Lieutenant Sam Harding never calls her again, he’s at least replaced the painful memories of her first (and last) intimate experience.

Sam Harding has a reputation for being a hard-ass at work and at play. He has two unbendable rules: No strings. Keep it casual. But when he meets Moira at a charity dinner, he’s torn between the desire to take her to bed and the need to protect her.
After a night of terrific sex, neither knows where things are going. But then Moira finds a dead body on the grounds of the hotel, and Sam can’t walk away without knowing she’s safe.

At least that’s what he tells himself. But as the threat he’s sensed becomes real, he’s powerless to protect her. It’s up to Moira to fight for her survival…and his.

Navy SEAL Sam Harding doesn’t do relationships. He’s seen too many bite the dust, especially while teams are deployed. The secrecy involved in a SEAL’s job and the sudden deployments can be devastating to a relationship.

Moira is an artist and a high school art teacher, she came up with an idea to raise money for a new NICU and it was embraced by the entire school. Every aspect of the fund raising was handled by the staff and the students to make for a very profitable endeavor. She attends a fund raising dinner where she would be accepting an award on behalf of the school for their large donation. She never expected to meet someone who breaks down her barriers where men are concerned.

Sam’s father has a law firm where both his brothers are employed. As a favor to his mother he attends this fundraiser to deliver a check and represent the firm. While Sam is a lawyer, he’s never practiced law. He followed his heart to the Navy and then the SEALs. Moira strikes a cord with him and he finds himself talking and doing things he wouldn’t have considered prior to meeting her.

This is just one of my favorite scenes.

Sam studied the slope from Moira’s shoulder to her breast. Shit, she was built— slender, compact, and all that glorious red hair… “What do you do in your spare time?”

“I’m an art teacher, but also an artist. I do work on commission. Plus, I swim every day at five before school, and I go up to the NICU unit at the hospital twice a week to cuddle the babies and feed them.”

Alarm bells went off in his head. He wasn’t ready for marriage or children. “How long have you been doing that?”

“Two years.”

He paused in cutting his steak to lean forward and rest his forearm on the table. “Why do you do it?”

“Because cuddling benefits their development. Babies who are cuddled have better sleeping habits and are less fussy. And the parents who have to work, who can’t be there all day to cuddle or hold them, need the extra support.

“When my youngest brother was born, I was twelve. He was premature, had lung issues and feeding issues. The doctors didn’t expect him to make it, so they sent him home to die. But we held him constantly and fed him through a tube. He’s fourteen now, strong, fit and plays baseball.”

“So, you visit the unit and cuddle babies.”

“It takes my thoughts away from school issues and focuses them on what’s important, giving the babies the human contact they need to survive.”

“Plus, your school raised money for the NICU?”

“Yes. The kids really got on board and did several fundraisers to bring in the money. They’ve worked hard all year. I voted for a couple of students to come and accept the award on behalf of the school, but my principal wanted me to do it.”

He turned toward her and his leg brushed hers. “I bet you had a lot to do with organizing the fundraisers.”

“The students worked to make things happen.”

Yeah, but he’d lay odds her organizational skills kept things running. “Moira, you inspired an entire school to get behind a project. That’s no small feat.”

She seemed uncomfortable with the praise and shrugged one shoulder while she chewed an asparagus tip, then took a drink. “The student body learned from the experience, and the school system got good press.” And she’d also received several commissions because of the work. She turned toward him. “And what about you? Wouldn’t it have been easier to be a lawyer than go into the Navy?”

He didn’t really want to talk about himself, but there was something about her that elicited trust. “My father and I had a deal. If I finished college, I could do whatever I wanted afterward. So I went to college, finished in three years, enrolled in law school, and passed the bar. The next week I enlisted in the Navy.”

“Was that the plan all along?”

“Yeah. I got the law degree in case I needed a backup plan some time down the road. I joined the Navy because it’s what I always wanted.” Had he ever told a woman all this?

“Did your father realize you were still going into the Navy?”

“He thought I’d change my mind once I finished school.”

“When did you go into the SEALs?”

“Right after boot camp.”

Her blue-green eyes rested on his face, her glasses magnifying their expression. “Would you say, then, that you’re just a little bit of an overachiever?”

He laughed at her droll tone. “Maybe a little.”

“And now you’re a team leader.”

“Yeah.”

“A first lieutenant?”

“How do you know?”

“You have a law degree, so you came into the service as an officer. But you’re not old enough to have been in long enough to have the rank of captain. What’s your next goal?”

He captured one arrant red curl, finding its texture interestingly coarse, and guided it back into place down her back. Her dress had an intriguing V there that ended just between her shoulder blades, revealing velvety skin that was a temptation he couldn’t resist. She froze as he brushed the back of one finger against the stretch of pale soft skin. “To get you out—” He paused and her heart leaped and hammered against her ribs until he finished the sentence “on the dance floor right after they give out the awards.”

She looked away fearful he might read her reaction and reached for her water glass again. “You may find you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. My size seven feet might feel like boat paddles when they step on your toes.”

“I’m not worried. You’re an overachiever, too.”

She pushed her plate away, half the food still on it, and shook her head at the server when dessert was offered, then turned to Sam and raised one perfectly arched, red brow. Damn, but she was beautiful. “I’m not even in your league, Sam.”
Teresa J. Reasor. Building Strength (Kindle Locations 264-303). Teresa J. Reasor.

A walk on the beach after the ceremony, a kiss, a phone call and they end up spending the night together. Something that surprises Sam, he doesn’t spend the night, ever.

It’s the next morning when Moira makes a startling discovery on the ground below her balcony that Sam’s protectiveness kicks in.
With one of his team in the hospital following a training incident, Sam and his team are assigned to training the new batch of SEALs. BUDs training for the candidates isn’t fun or easy, for the team it’s a break and fun to oversee the process all of them have been through.

There are so many things happening behind the scenes in this book. All are vital to the story and each provide their own twist.

I loved the way this story develops, from the investigation of the accident and the murder to the developing bond between Sam and Moira, you won’t be able to put this book down.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J. Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reader to writer came easily and she was a closet novelist for many years until 2007 when her first book was published.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa Reasor

Rylie Stewart, daughter of SEAL legend, Admiral ‘Black Jack’ Stewart, is in trouble. Big trouble. Eight and a half months through a difficult pregnancy, she’s kept her silence about who the father of her unborn child is, but the closer she gets to giving birth the more the pressure mounts for her to reveal the man’s name. But she’s been a SEAL’s daughter for twenty-three years and she’s as good at keeping secrets as her father is.

Navy SEAL Eric ‘Viking’ Anderson has just come off a six-month deployment to find Rylie on his doorstep with news. He’s about to become a father, and she wants a promise in case something happens to her during the birth. Eric’s more than willing to give her his word, but he wants something in return. Another chance with the woman he loves. And this time they’re going to do things his way. No more hiding and no more secrets.

But there’s one truth he can’t reveal to Rylie without further damaging her rocky relationship with her father. He suspects Black Jack knew about their affair and deployed Eric to end it. But now Rylie’s carrying his baby, the Admiral will play hell getting rid of him again. His missions: To put a wedding ring on Rylie’s finger, making their relationship permanent, and to be the best dad in the world for their baby boy.

This book opens in the here and now, with Eric just getting home from a deployment and on a mission of his own to find Riley. He hasn’t heard from her in a month and wants an explanation. Then Riley shows up at his door, very pregnant and in labor.

While that in itself is a shock to him, her explanation goes back to when they met. Not that Eric was likely to forget, she crashed into his motorcycle. In the aftermath of that accident he invited her to join him and his friends for dinner.

This is a favorite scene as Riley meets Eric’s teammates.

Rylie cocked her head. The way he went from being upset about his motorcycle to asking her to join them seemed too surreal. “Do you always invite strange women to join your party when you’re here?” She bet he had to peel women off him all the time.

“No. Actually, you’re the first.”

She raised one smooth, dark brow. “I think your nose might have grown an inch or two with that one.”

Eric chuckled. “I usually bring a date, but I’ve been out of town for a while… and it was spur of the moment.”

Military. He had to be. His body was too toned and fit to a be a civilian. And oh, boy. Her father would shit if she hooked up with a sailor. Suddenly the idea was appealing. “Are you in the Navy?”

“Yeah.”

She shook her head, suppressing a smile. “I don’t know. I’ve heard stories about you guys. A girl in every port and all that.”

He grinned. “I’m usually too busy to find a girl in every port.”

“And here at home?”

“It’s kinda challenging here, too. My schedule’s a little erratic.”

A SEAL. He had to be. But he didn’t play the SEAL card, and she liked him for that. But then a lot of the guys were careful about owning it.

“What do you do for a living, Rylie?”

“I’m an interior designer. I work for a firm downtown.”

“I could use your expertise at my apartment. It looks like a cross between a locker room and… you don’t want to know.”

She laughed. “I heard you guys are self-disciplined and everything has its place.”

“Only on post, darlin’. The rest of the time we’re just like everyone else.”

She started cleaning her room for inspection when she was six. Her dad made it a game, but the need for order had been ingrained in her.

“What do you do in the Navy?”

“I’m a dive supervisor. Do you dive?”

“Yes, I do. Though I haven’t been diving in a while, I’ve kept my certification up to date.”

“That’s great. We could go diving together sometime.”

There it was. But it thrilled her, because he was suggesting they get together for something more than a hookup. If she encouraged him, it would really get her father’s goat… but it would also be petty and immature.

On the other hand, Black Jack deserved it. But this guy didn’t deserve the trouble Black Jack was sure to send his way.

She studied Eric’s rugged, handsome face and sighed inwardly. He seemed nice enough. And that deep voice appealed to her. In fact, the whole package appealed to her. “I don’t normally go to bars alone. I just went in to find you and report the wreck.”

“You look like you’ve been crying. Boyfriend?” he asked.

She shook her head and wiped beneath her eyes. “No. I got an eyelash in my eye and my eyes watered.”

She could tell he wasn’t completely convinced.

“Come join us. Drink a glass of wine, eat a few wings, relax. At least until you’ve shaken this off.” He offered his hand. His smile held enough warmth and charm that her heart did a jig.

Once inside she said, “I need to freshen up. You’re outside with your friends?”

“Yeah.”

“Go ahead and order your food. I’ll join you.” She slipped away to freshen her makeup and half toyed with the idea of sneaking away instead. But it seemed cowardly after he’d been so nice.

As she went to join them outside, the sun had set and the lights strung overhead were already on, though the night was stalled between daylight and dusk. The air felt moist, and the breeze carried the scents of food and flowers.

Eric beckoned to her, and she headed in that direction.

“Hey, guys. This is Rylie.” Eric grabbed an empty chair and placed it at the table, then introduced his friends. Tucker and his date Jodi, and Evan and his date Presley. Nick and Eric were flying solo. At least Eric had been before inviting her to join them.

“So how long have you known Eric?” Nick asked.

Rylie checked her watch. “About half an hour.”

Everyone at the table laughed.

Nick nudged Eric in the ribs with an elbow. “A new record, Viking?” Nick’s green eyes shone with amusement.

The nickname Viking certainly suited Eric, with his blond hair and sky-blue eyes. And with a last name like Anderson he probably had the genes to back it up.

Eric grinned. “She dives. It’s a match made in heaven.”

“How long have you been diving, Rylie?” Nick asked, his eyes alight with amusement.

“Twelve years. My dad’s a dive enthusiast.” No way was she admitting to this crowd who her father was. They’d shut down and lock her out in a New York minute.

With a momentary flash of surprise, he said, “She may be better than you, Viking.”

Eric shrugged. “Dive dates aren’t a competition.”

“So, you’re going on a dive date with Viking?” Tuck asked.

Eric frowned at him. “You don’t have to make it sound like she’d be putting her life at risk.”

Everyone in the group laughed.

Rylie bit her lip to keep from smiling. “I’m just a hobbyist. Eric’s the professional. I’m sure I’d be safe with him underwater.”

“Or anywhere else,” Eric said with another of those heart-jolting grins.
Teresa Reasor. Hot SEAL, Taking the Plunge (Kindle Locations 308-353). Teresa J. Reasor.

There’s a lot of reminiscing while Riley’s in labor. It also puts a few things in perspective for Eric. Including the reason why she hadn’t answered his calls or replied to his letters. It also makes him wonder about the hold on his promotion, her father could certainly done that.

One thing is for sure, he is going to marry Riley and be a good father to their son.

This book is a lot of fun, in spite of the problems ‘Black Jack’ Stewart causes. There’s laughter, tears and some sizzle as well.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this multi-author series.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J. Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reader to writer came easily and she was a closet novelist for many years until 2007 when her first book was published.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa J. Reasor

On leave after a difficult mission, Navy SEAL Tony Gallo steps off the plane in Rome and tumbles right into the arms of the woman who dumped him nine years ago, and they’re both there for family events. He discovers Darcy’s attending the wedding they planned but never had, but now it’s someone else’s.

Darcy Moreau is traveling for the first time and fulfilling a dream. She’s in Rome to be her best friend’s Maid of Honor. But she’s also there to bury the past and start a new life.

When she and Tony meet again, she wonders if the past might not be such a bad thing if her future can include the man she left behind. But can she make amends and convince him to give her another chance?

Tony is on his way to Rome to celebrate his parents 35th anniversary with his whole family. On the plane he helps out a young mother with a hellacious little boy and spies someone he hasn’t seen since she walked away nine years ago.

Darcy is heading to Rome to be her best friend’s maid of honor. A wedding she helped plan. The last person she expected to see was Tony, but she really wasn’t upset to see him only regretful for the way things played out.

This is a favorite scene.

DARCY BRACED HER hands on the armrests as the plane landed while the jolt of the tires hitting the runway and the sudden tug of the brakes jerked her forward and back. Everyone clapped as they slowed, and the pilot addressed them over the cabin speaker. “Welcome to beautiful Rome, ladies and gentlemen. The skies are clear, and the temperature is eighty-three degrees Fahrenheit, twenty-three degrees Celsius. Have a nice visit, and to those of you who are returning from America, welcome home.” He repeated the message in Italian like a native speaker.

It took several minutes for everyone to gather their carry-on luggage. Her legs felt stiff and uncooperative as she joined the crush and stepped out into the aisle. Thank goodness the lines through customs looked manageable, since there was more than one border agent.

She fell in behind two women and contented herself with looking around the Leonardo da Vinci Airport. She’d seen pictures, but they didn’t convey the size or the busyness of the place. She heard four different languages in as many feet, and she didn’t speak any of them.

While she was arranging all those virtual trips for Chandler, she should have studied a language.

“Il passaporto, per favore.”  The Italian customs agent beckoned her forward.

Understanding “passport” and “please,” Darcy placed the document on the counter in front of him.

“Motiva del a visita?” “Motiva” meant reason, and “visita” meant visit. “I’m here to participate in a wedding.”

“Per quanto tempo si ferma?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

“How long wil you be staying?” he asked, in perfect but accented English.

“A week.” He stamped her passport and handed it back to her. “Have a good visit, and welcome to Rome.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

A rush of anxiety hit her as she wandered toward signs directing her to the baggage reclaim area. She was in a foreign country. Alone.

She hoped Leslie had sent someone to pick her up, but if not she had enough Euros to pay for the taxi ride to the hotel.

Though it was heavy, she dragged her large suitcase off the carousel and turned to search for one of the overhead directional signs.

Her heart stuttered, then leapt as she caught sight of the man coming toward her. His dark hair, brushed back off his forehead, was just as thick as it had ever been. The shadow of beard that darkened the lower half of his face underlined the more mature masculinity of his features. He looked taller, broader through the shoulders and chest, more muscular. Of course he would. He was no longer eighteen, but twenty-eight, and had spent ten years as a Navy SEAL.

Her legs went weak even as she was striding to meet him. They were but a few feet apart when a child rushed between them and attached himself to Tony’s leg like a little monkey, and Tony tripped.

Darcy was already leaping forward as he twisted to keep from falling on the tyke. They collided, and she went down, her arms and shoulder cushioning his fall.

“Michel!” A woman rushed to them. “Oh, Dio.” A rapid stream of Italian rained down on them, the tone apologetic. She reached for the child and tugged him to his feet. The little rascal was laughing with delight.

Tony waved a hand. He looked up at Darcy, his head stil cushioned on her shoulder but his cheek rested on her breast, and every inch of her went liquid. “Are you okay, Darcy?”

“Yes. I think so.” In truth she was probably going to have a bruise on her hip, but it would heal, and it was a small price to pay if it saved Tony a head injury.

“Michel will one day be a famous rugby player,” Tony murmured, then reassured his mother they were fine with, “Noi stiamo bene, signora,” as he sat up. He rolled his shoulders, got to his feet, then offered Darcy a hand up.

Two airport employees hurried over to them, inquiring about injuries.

Tony’s eyes zeroed in on her once more, and his hand ran down her arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Her hip ached a little, but just holding hands with him was enough to distract her from it. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“Michel wished to say grazie,” the mother said in halting English.

Michel’s mother’s expression was half exasperation, half concern, but she continued to offer her apologies. She pointed at Michel, and the boy stepped forward to apologize and give Tony a hug.

When the small family finally continued on its way, he said, “She needs some kind of safety harness on him. The kid’s a wild child. And how will she get her luggage and haul it to the train or a cab while holding onto him and the baby?”

Acutely aware that he was stil holding her hand she said, “It looks like she’s getting help.” An airport employee appeared pushing a stroller with two seats, and while the mother strapped Michel and the baby in, the employee collected her luggage.

When Tony turned to look at her it was like a blow to her heart.

His gray eyes delved deep and made her stomach jitter, and she gripped the handle of her suitcase to steady herself.

“Thanks for covering my six. You hit the floor pretty hard. You’re sure you’re not hurt?”

“I promise I’m not.” Just looking into his face brought everything back. A bruise was a smal price to pay compared to that.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I’m here for a wedding.”

His eyes narrowed and he released her hand. “You’re getting married?”

“No. My best friend from college is marrying an Italian businessman and wil be moving here permanently.” She shifted her purse against her hip. “What are you doing here?”

“Family vacation with the folks. It’s my mom and dad’s thirty-fifth anniversary, and everyone’s here to visit Nonna and celebrate.”

She remembered Tony’s grandmother. She’d been visiting when Darcy’s life went to hell. “How is she doing? She must be in her late seventies now.”

“She’s doing fine. Still feisty. I haven’t seen her in person for nearly three years, but Mom keeps me posted, and I FaceTime with Nonna for her birthday, Christmas, that kind of thing. After I get my bag, let’s walk down to the main entrance. Mom and Dad are sending a car for me.” He strode to the luggage carousel and retrieved his suitcase.

He seemed to know where they were going as they strolled down the wide aisle. To keep from staring at him as she wanted to do, she studied the interlocked triangular structures above that held the roof.

The entire building was an interesting mishmash of different architectural designs and seemed to stretch on forever.

“Are you still in the Navy?”

“Yeah. I put in for this leave almost six months ago and stil almost missed it.”

“But you didn’t, and I’m sure your family will be thrilled to see you.”

“And you,” he added. Just looking at him brought to life the loss she suffered after he left. A loss that had been partially numbed by time, but now the ache had been jolted alive again.

“You’ll make some time to see them? Mom said she stopped hearing from you once you moved away.”

She bit her lip. She had no choice back then. It had been too painful to continue communicating with them after breaking things off with Tony, and she couldn’t expect them to split their loyalties between their son and his ex-girlfriend. “I don’t know what Roberto’s family has planned, Tony, but I’ll try.”

“Where are you staying? I’ll drop you off where ever you need to go.”

“I’m staying at the Starhotels Michelangelo, near the Vatican.”

He grinned. “So are we.”

Fate was either playing a joke on her by putting them in such close proximity, or rubbing her face in it.
Teresa Reasor. Hot SEAL, Roman Nights (Kindle Locations 77-141). Kindle Edition.

What ensues is a fun-filled adventure through Italy. With lots of characters from both the bride’s family and Tony’s.

I loved Nona, she is the best grandmother ever. Even she knew Darcy and Tony belong together. All they have to do is get passed the reasons she walked away.

I laughed, cried, envisioned the scenery and Tony and Darcy totally steam up the pages.

I can’t wait to read more in this multi-author series.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J. Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reader to writer came easily and she was a closet novelist for many years until 2007 when her first book was published.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

By
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa J. Reasor

Ex-Navy SEAL Derrick Armstrong walks out of the Miramar military brig with a dishonorable discharge, a criminal record, and no prospects. The odds are against him being able to build a normal life after prison, but his training as a SEAL keeps him going.

Ella Bailey is struggling financially to raise her seven-year-old son alone. Life has dealt her some hard blows and when Derrick steps between her and another one, she’s both grateful and wary. She views men as obstacles to avoid, but she’s drawn to Derrick, and sees something special in him.

Derrick’s kept his past a secret. When Ella’s ex-boss is found dead and the cops question them both, he realizes, whether he’s done anything or not, he’s living on borrowed time. When they train their sights on Ella instead, he moves to protect her, and in the process exposes his past.

Will she kick him to the curb or will she allow him to build a life with her and her son?

Circumstances in Derek’s career have left him dishonorably discharged from the Navy. A sad and possibly preventable occurrence had steps been taken early enough.

Ella struggles daily to make ends meet, her boss is a jerk and is constantly hitting on her. Then there’s the day he goes too far. Fortunately for Ella, Derek is the one that comes to her aid, and he does it  in a way that can change things. Not only for her but also for the others working there. That is if Ella can convince them to do something.

This is a favorite scene.

Half a block down from the club he said, “You can get up off the floor now.”

She pushed free of the dash and settled into the seat. For several blocks she remained silent. “He hit my car with the bat.”

“Yeah. I can knock out the dent while I’m changing the tires and balancing them for you. He gave me cash for the repairs.”

“How did you manage that?”

“He set the whole thing up. I called him on it.” He pulled to a stop at the red light and ran searching eyes over her. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“No.” Though she denied it, she touched her arm as though she had some pain there. “He meant to. If he’d been able to get me down, he’d have done worse.” Her voice shook, and she cleared her throat.

“The hair spray was a good weapon of opportunity. You did good.”

“Thanks.” She clamped her hands between her knees, but her knees bobbed like her feet rested on springs.

The light changed and he stepped on the gas. “How long you been working at the club?”

“About three weeks.”

Shit, this was not his business. “If you want to call the cops, I’ll testify to what I saw and the bribe he gave me to keep my mouth shut.”

“Bribe?”

“Yeah. He gave me five hundred to pay for the tow, tires, and the alignment. And a thousand to keep my mouth shut about seeing you running out of the bar like it was about to blow up.”

She gaped at him.

He shrugged. “It didn’t take a mental giant to figure things out. He was al over you at the bar while you were working. And you were doing everything you could to avoid being touched. I can even guess how he set it up. He slips out while you’re busy, punctures your tires, then waits for the girls to clear out. If you’d cal ed someone to pick you up, he’d have tried something else another night.”

“One of the girls warned me. And he followed me into the dancers’ dressing room when I went back in to see if anyone was stil there. I was going to ask for a ride home.”

“He probably did the same thing to the woman who warned you.”

She brushed a hand over her cap of short black hair, her throat working as she swallowed. “God.”

“Do you want to go to the police with this?”

“I need to think about it.” She fel silent, her face turned away to the passing street. She hugged herself.

He turned into the garage parking lot, hit the electronic door opener, and turned the wrecker to off-load her car, then exited the cab and moved to tilt the bed and turn on the winch to lower the car to the concrete floor over the rack.

He looked up as the woman swung down out of the cab and walked toward him into the light. Dressed in straight-legged jeans and a black turtleneck, she was slender and long-limbed. The slow, graceful way she walked reminded him of a dancer he once dated several years ago. He’d seen women with dark hair, but none so dark it held a bluish sheen. Her large eyes, surrounded by lashes the same deep tone, had a golden, whiskey tint to them. Beneath a slender nose, the heavy pout of her lips drew his attention, and his rushing heartbeat picked up a notch.

Damn, she was beautiful.

Pale pink traveled along her cheekbones and she looked away without making eye contact.

The very last thing she needed was him staring at her. “If you’ll come into the office, I’l get the paperwork set up to do the repairs.”

“Thanks.”

Beneath the lights in the smal office he got a good look at her injuries. “Your neck is red. You’re going to have some bruises.”

She touched the tender skin and flinched.

“You have a phone, I can take pictures of it for you.”

She eyed him. “I’ll get my neighbor to do it for me.”

She didn’t trust him enough to turn her back on him. He could understand that.
Once she’d signed the paperwork, he said, “If you have someone to pick you up, I’l get the repairs done and deliver the car to your house in the morning.”

“I’ll wait. I’l need it to take my son to school in the morning.”

“Okay, but if I get called out to another tow, I’ll have to go. That’s what I get paid for around here. I’ll hurry to get the flats switched out as fast as I can, and while I’m working you can take a seat in here and I’ll close the door.” He pointed to the leather bench seat against one wall opposite a long row of filing cabinets. And a desk. “The hydraulic wrench is loud as hell.”

He closed the door behind him, slipped on noise-muffling headphones, and went to work. The whole time he was positioning the car onto the rack, removing the lug nuts and changing out the tires, his thoughts dwelled on her.

How did someone as beautiful as she was end up at a strip club?

And was her suspicious, hard edge a new thing, or one she’d developed over several years? He’d bet it followed the birth of her kid. And why was he thinking about her like this, when he wouldn’t have a chance in a million with her? It wasn’t like he’d even want one. He was carrying too much baggage already, and she’d just be one more complication.
Teresa J. Reasor. Breaking Chains (Kindle Locations 493-535). Kindle Edition.

Nothing is really easy for either of them. As this book progresses Derek is approached to aid in an investigation, and Ella falls into a job she’s not sure she wants.

Ella is a great mother and has been through so much. Derek also wants to gain forgiveness from his former SEAL team something that seems impossible. Their journeys are compelling and their romance even more so.

Once again Teresa Reasor has given us a story filled with action, compassion, sizzling heat and more!

I now have to go back and catch up on this series, I’ve missed a couple.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J. Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reader to writer came easily and she was a closet novelist for many years until 2007 when her first book was published.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.

By
NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Teresa J. Reasor

After a broken engagement followed by six months of grueling work, Sloan Bianchi is ready to hit the beaches of Hilton Head South Carolina for some R and R. She isn’t looking for romance, but when she catches the gaze of a stranger at a local restaurant, her attraction is immediate. But he turns out to be just another guy who can’t follow through.

Karma isn’t always a bitch. Navy SEAL Connor ‘Hammer’ Evans decides a fender bender is a small price to pay for finally meeting the woman who got away. Even though he’ll only be on the East Coast a short time, he’s convinced he and Sloan can enjoy a sexy, no-strings adventure together while he’s here.

Their first kiss ignites a hunger for each other they can’t seem to quench. As their relationship deepens, Sloan realizes she has to be honest with Connor and share the reason behind her broken engagement. When he learns the truth, will he go wheels up and leave her behind? Or will he follow through?

Connor Evans has some decisions to make while he is on leave visiting his father. The two of them often butt heads and he has decided to go relax with a drink. It’s at a cozy bar and grill he sees Sloane, but he’s still debating whether to approach when she leaves with her companions.

Sloane notice the hunk of a man ogling her from the bar, she just wasn’t a one night stand kind of girl and her confidence with the opposite sex was nil since her fiancé broke up with her. Leaving was the best course of action.

Fate had another idea, and a car accident has him assist them. This is a favorite scene as he drops Sloane at the hospital to check on her friends.

“You’re a lawyer?”

“Yeah, I’m a corporate attorney.”

Impressive. “Where’d you go to school?”

“Harvard.” Was that a little reluctance he heard?

“I went directly into the Navy from high school. Took some college classes online, but deployments interfere and I haven’t finished yet.”

“You could try again. You’re never too old to learn.”

She was right. He’d learned technical things for the SEALs that also had applications in other industries. And if he retired, he could go back to school and do whatever he wanted.

Clearly fishing for a change of subject, she said, “I think this vehicle may be cleaner than my apartment back home.”

He chuckled. “My Dad’s a little OCD about his ride.”

“What’s he going to say about it being damaged?”

“Nothing’s so damaged it can’t be repaired, Sloane. He’ll be relieved to know no one was seriously injured. It’s just a truck.”

A sign for the hospital came up on the left, and he turned off the parkway onto a side road leading directly to the hospital. He parked in the lot as close to the emergency room as possible, shut off the engine, and held the truck keys in his hand, but didn’t make a move to exit the vehicle.

“I’d like to see you while you’re here, Sloane, if you’re interested. I’ve been out of the country for the past six months in a place as unwelcoming as it gets, bivouacked with a bunch of loud, smelly guys. You get hungry for the sound of a woman’s voice, the sweet scent of her perfume and—other things.”

She was silent for so long he thought she was looking for a way to say thanks, but no thanks.

“Walk me to the door,” she said, soft and breathy.

Her velvety voice tripped him over into a full-fledged arousal. “Sure.” He slid carefully out of the truck and went around to open her door and give her a hand down.

As they strolled across the parking lot to the entrance, her fingers curled around his bicep, and he automatically bent his elbow.

She handed him the shopping bag and retrieved her cell from her purse. “What’s your cell number?”

He rattled it off, and she typed it into her phone. His phone signaled a text had arrived.

She took the shopping bag from him, rose on tiptoe, and brushed his cheek with a kiss, her breath warm against his skin. “Thanks for the lift, Connor.” She turned and stepped on the mat so the automatic door slid open.

“You’re welcome.” He tugged his phone free and read the message. Tomorrow night, 7:00, at the restaurant where we almost met.

He typed I’ll be there and sent the text.

She paused in the door, phone in hand, to look back at him. “What do you do in the Navy?”

She’d already agreed to go out with him, so he didn’t have to worry that she was interested because of what he did. And for some reason he didn’t want to have to bullshit her by saying he was a diver. “I’m a SEAL.”

She laughed. Which was the last thing he expected.

“I should have known.” Flashing him one last smile, she strode into the hospital.
Reasor, Teresa. Hot SEAL, Rusty Nail (SEALs In Paradise ) (Kindle Locations 180-207). Teresa Reasor. Kindle Edition.

A slow, heated build to this relationship as her friends return home. A challenge to do things she’s never done before has these two smoldering for more.

The sharing of secrets adds to the building trust, and an interesting twist when Sloane’s ex shows up. All topped off by Connor getting called up.

I loved the slow build romance, the suspense surrounding Sloane’s ex’s return to work at her firm plus the anger and heat that surrounds Connor and Slone’s reunion after his deployment. All this and more had me turning the pages.

I really have to go back and read more of Teresa’s SEALs. I have five of the seven books in her SEAL Team Heartbreakers, but I don’t think I’ve read them all.

5 Contented Purrs for Teresa!

Teresa J Reasor

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father’s military career entailed. The transition from reading to writing came easily to her and she penned her first book in second grade. But it wasn’t until 2007 that her first published work was released.

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part time College Instructor, she’s now retired and living her dream as a full time Writer.

Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy Romance, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, and Children’s Books.