New Release – Negotiating for Love!

Hi All!

It’s release day! Woo hoo! NEGOTIATING FOR LOVE, book 4 of the Jenkins Family Series is now available for your reading pleasure!

I’m sure you remember Martina Jenkins. She was first introduced in Still the Best Woman for the Job and has made an appearance in the first three books in the series. Martina is the “carpenter” in the family who loves giving everyone a hard time, but hates when anyone mentions the name – Paul Kendricks. Well, in NEGOTIATING FOR LOVE, Martina and Paul come face to face, and true to form, Martina’s mouth is in gear before her brain is engaged.

Check out their story!

 

Blurb:

Master carpenter, Martina “MJ” Jenkins, has built plenty of structures in her day, but none as sturdy as the walls she’s built around her heart. After crossing paths with a sexy U.S. Senator, with gorgeous brown eyes and a seductive smile, her resolve to stay unattached, crumbles. Martina is determined to steer clear, but the Senator’s kisses are too delicious to resist.

Third generation U.S. Senator, Paul Kendricks, faithfully represents his state and is loyal to the family’s political legacy. Still he yearns for a wife, children, and a new career far away from the political arena. Too bad the object of his desire is the one woman who wants nothing to do with commitment. But the sparks that fly between them can’t be ignored.

As Paul chips away at the wall Martina has built, can he convince her to put her fears aside and open her heart to love?

Excerpt:

Martina moved toward a pair of chairs and a small round table less than five feet away. She hated attending events where she had to get dressed up and sit quietly through a program. And when one of the speakers happened to be an enemy, it was like having to endure a root canal.

“Martina!”

She froze. Her breath lodged in her throat and hands fisted at her sides. That deep, baritone voice had always had an effect on her, even when she didn’t want it to and today was no different. Her pulse pounded an erratic cadence in her ears as a war raged within her on whether or not to turn around.

“You were brazen enough to spout out that nonsense in there, yet you’re not brave enough to look at me.”

The annoyance that consumed her only moments ago returned and she spun in the direction of the voice. But the smart retort dangling on the end of her tongue, dropped off. Instead, all she could do was stand cemented in place and stare at the man who stirred so many emotions within her.

Senator Paul Kendricks. Part of her wanted to pick up the small table near her leg and fling it at him. Whereas the other part of her was taken back to every one of her erotic dreams he had starred in.

She wanted to hate him. God, she wanted to hate him. She couldn’t. For reasons she didn’t want to revisit at the moment, she knew she would never hate him.

Martina took in his appearance, assessing his smooth dark skin, intense brown eyes, and those luscious lips that were tempting whether smiling or tilted down in a frown the way they were now.

Fury and sexual tension battled within her. On one hand, she wanted to wrap her hands around his thick neck and shake him. But on the other hand, she wanted to fall into him, feel his powerful arms wrapped around her while she tasted his sweet lips. She knew they were delicious because she’d tasted them before, on more than one occasion in fact.

Her gaze took in his perfectly groomed mustache. Normally he was clean-shaven, a preference for those in the Senate, but not a requirement. Though not today. Today the light sprinkle of scruff shadowing his cheek and chin, made him look even sexier than usual.

His broad shoulders and fit body were sheathed in a tailored suit that she knew cost more than she made in a week, made her remember. Made her remember how good-looking he was. Made her remember how being anywhere near him sent tingles through her body. And made her remember why seeing Paul up close and personal again wasn’t a good idea.

“Hi Senator Kendricks, I’m Peyton Jenkins. I’m so sorry for my cousin’s behavior. I assure you, she will not be returning to the event. She tends to speak before thinking sometimes and—”

“I’m well aware of Martina’s penchant for speaking her mind, even at the most inopportune times,” Paul said, his gaze never leaving Martina. “It’s good to see you again, Martina.”

The way her name slid out of his mouth sent a sweet thrill up her spine, licking her skin like a gentle breeze. She loathed that his voice still had the power to stop her in her tracks. What she hated, even more, was the desire radiating in his eyes. The same desire was coursing through her veins.

Ughhh, she growled silently, pissed that she was still attracted to the man.

“Too bad I can’t say the same about you.” Her throat tightened at the words that opposed what she truly felt inside. Her voice no longer carried the same annoyance from earlier. Instead, she sounded more breathy than she intended.

Damn him for looking so good.

“Hold up. Wait.” Peyton stood with her mouth hanging open, her gaze bouncing between them. “You two know each other?”

“As a matter of fact we do,” Paul volunteered. “Your cousin and I know each other very well.”

*

Read more – get your copy today! Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble  |  Kobo  |  Smashwords  |  ARe  | iTunes

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Walk It Off

My friend Claire has a way with words and I chuckled throughout this post. While reading, for a minute, I thought she was writing about me! I could so relate as I get back into my workout routine to get these couple of extra holiday pounds off!

I’m with ya, Claire!

Woman@Heart

It started with nibbling leftover Halloween candy — my two months of over-indulgence. Almond-cranberry stuffing, artichoke dip and a two-pound box of See’s candy (nuts and chews) combined forces to put me where I am today — toting those infamous seven pounds that many of us are supposed to gain during the holiday season.

I can’t say I didn’t enjoy myself during the eight weeks of tasting the fruits of the holidays – or at least the fruit-flavors of the holidays. Even though I wasn’t curling up with a bowl of strawberries or a plate of celery, I did learn a few things. For example, did you know that there are 1,050 fat-free calories in a 9.5-oz box of Hot Tamales? Me neither. I found out the hard way when my usually forgiving relax-fit jeans refused to zip up and the numbers on my digital scale boldly climbed to where…

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Tell Me Lies

Hi All,

Join me in welcoming author Michelle Lindo-Rice to my blog today! Michelle is introducing us to her new release – TELL ME LIES.

Kindle: ASIN: B018EXNO70

Publication Date: Jan 12, 2016

Genre: Christian Fiction

About The Book

A broken heart…When Sydney Richardson meets Pastor Noah Charleston it was practically love at first sight. Sydney has battled so much deception in her personal life and in her work as an attorney, she is glad to have a perfect man she can depend on. But her Prince Charming has some secrets that are worse than Sydney could have ever imagined. What will she do when Noah’s past life come to light?

A broken truth… Pastor Noah Charleston has come a long way since his troubled youth. A respected Man-of-God, Noah’s long buried past emerges in the form of blackmail and threats. Noah not only fears for his safety but also for his newfound love. Will he take a chance on the truth before it’s too late?

A broken trust…Newly converted Christian, Belinda Santiago, harbors a secret that could end her friendship with Sydney. She’s in love with Lance Forbes, Sydney’s ex-fiancé. When Belinda and Lance’s relationship is exposed she may have to choose between her man and her best friend.

A broken man…Lance Forbes returns to Port Charlotte to make things right with Sydney, but his feelings for Belinda are in his way. Lance knows for him to become a do-right man, he must face his childhood pain. Will Lance get his act together and take a chance on love or run again?

 

Excerpt (Prologue):

“The rumor is three black boys killed your parents. Is it true?”

Perched on the edge of his cot, Noah Charleston lifted his eyes to look at the four half-men standing before him. The leader of the pack, Mitch, was sixteen with a baby face, braces and bad acne around his chin. His two muscles, twins Roger and Wylie, were about a year older at seventeen. Both were built like linebackers. Finally, the Whiz, or Matthew a slender fifteen year old with glasses that took up half of his face was the brain of the group.

“Answer him,” Roger prodded, stepping into the small cell.

Noah shrugged. “That was a year ago.”

“We can do something about that.” Mitch popped his gum. “Join us.”

Noah had heard about the “Avengers” as they dubbed themselves. They ruled the juvenile detention hall and dressed in their version of combat gear: khaki pants, boots and camouflage shirts. Even the counselors were afraid of them.

Noah kept to himself. Everyone pretty much left him alone. Except for today.

He looked up at them. “Do I have a choice?”

Wylie stepped forward. “Do you want me to help you make up your mind?”

“How about I help fix that ugly face of yours?” Noah threw back.

Wylie sprung at Noah. Noah jumped to his feet and sidestepped the much bigger guy. Then he bashed Wylie in the back of the head. Roger lunged at him.

“Quit it,” Mitch bellowed. “Leave him alone.”

Roger’s chest heaved but he backed off. His eyes held a threat. Noah met his gaze, daring him to bring it.

“I like your heart,” Mitch said. “We need you.”

“I like my own company,” Noah said.

“We have something you want,” the Whiz said. His voice was barely above a whisper. He wheezed his words as if he was always in need of an asthma pump.

“You don’t have—”

Noah’s eyes widened. The Whiz held a crumpled 3×5 photograph in his hand. Noah snatched it, “Where did you find this?”

“We have our ways,” Mitch bragged.

Noah squinted.

“I hacked into the computer system,” the Whiz said. This time he coughed at the end of his words. “I know who took your picture.”

“We’ve handled him.” Mitch’s tone was solemn.

“That’s why you should be thanking us,” Wyle said, rubbing the back of his head.

Noah looked at the photograph of his parents and closed his eyes to keep the tears from falling. It was his most prized possession. When he had been sent here to the juvenile home two months ago, Noah had placed it under his pillow before lunch. When he checked for it later that night, it had been gone. He searched everywhere but couldn’t find it. That was the first time since his parents’ funeral Noah had cried himself to sleep.

“Thank you,” he grounded out.

“Thank us by joining us,” Mitch said.

The Whiz held up a picture. It was an African-American by the name of Tony Billows who had taken it.

Noah clenched his fists. “Where is he?”

“In the hospital with some missing teeth,” Roger said.

“And a missing pinky,” Wylie added.

Noah blinked. He would have settled it with a well-deserved punch or two. Not doing Tony serious injury. “That was vicious.”

“It was a message. You mess with one of us you mess with us all. We’re a family,” Mitch said.

“The Avengers,” Wylie and Roger said in unison. They held out their fists. Noah had reservations but Mitch had used the magic word. Family. Noah wanted family. He made a fist and the boys all did a fist bump.

“The Avengers,” he said.

“Welcome,” Mitch said.

“Glad to have you,” The Whiz whispered. “Now, let’s get you some proper clothes and a haircut.”

Noah swallowed his reservations. He had a family again. Nothing else mattered.

*

Get your copy today!  Amazon  |  Barnes and Noble

To Read the first three chapters, click here:

About The Author

Michelle Lindo-Rice is an award winning, bestselling author of “Able to Love” and “On the Right Path” series. She enjoys crafting women’s fiction with themes centered around the four “F” words: Faith, Friendship, Family and Forgiveness. She is the 2015 winner of the Black Writers And Book Clubs Rocks Author of the Year Award. www.michellelindorice.com

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