Excerpt Wednesday – Maggie Quinn

Maggie glanced at Paddy. His eyes revealed that he was as frightened as she was at their mother's worsening health. She didn't know how to help her mother and did the only thing she could do, which was to offer up another silent prayer for her healing. But she had to face the truth. The Lord would soon take her beloved mother the same as He'd taken Da and her brothers and sisters. She wanted to scream and pound her fists. What had they done to deserve this? She drew a deep breath. No, her faith was being tested. She had to hold on. She had to accept whatever burdens the Lord had placed on their family. She couldn't forsake everything Ma had taught her.

"Maggie, you remind me so much of your father. You have his love for the land. You have his courage and strength of character."

"And Da's red hair and stubbornness to match," Patrick said in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Catherine laughed weakly. "My sweet Paddy. The man of the house. So much laid on your young shoulders. I'm sorry, my son."

"I have strong shoulders, Ma," Patrick replied. "Please take some broth now."

"I'm not hungry. Save it for yourselves." She sank back into the pillows and immediately began coughing again.

"Ma!" Patrick said, alarmed at the strangling sounds coming from her throat. He put his arms around her and raised her to a sitting position. The coughing slowly subsided.

Maggie looked at Patrick. His eyes were filled with sorrow, but became brighter as Maggie began rubbing her mother's back and her breathing became less labored.

"Rest now, Ma. Please?" Patrick pleaded.

"There'll be time for that later." She swallowed.

Maggie noted how difficult swallowing seemed to be. "Have some water, Ma. You're parched. Let me get you a cup."

"No," she said in the same raspy hoarse voice. "Tell me about the crop, Paddy. Is it good? Tell me the truth. I hear you and Maggie whispering. Don't lie to me, Paddy."

Maggie's eyes pleaded with Patrick. She shook her head and Patrick nodded. She knew her mother couldn't take the bad news.

Patrick came around the bed and seated himself in the chair next to the bed. He took his mother's frail hand in his and sighed heavily. "I won't lie to you, Ma." He looked at Maggie and shook his head. "The crop is gone."

Maggie had misinterpreted his nod to mean he wouldn't tell her. If she was going to leave them, let her go with peace. She couldn't bear for whatever time her mother had left to be fraught with worry. Maggie anxiously watched her mother's face. Why had Paddy told her? Why couldn't he let her believe they would be fine? She saw the hopelessness in her mother's eyes. The will to fight to live was gone. Ma had no reason now. She could do nothing to protect her children.

"All of it? There's nothing left?" 

Paddy blinked and bit his bottom lip. "Yes, Ma. We have nothing left," he replied quietly. "The fields are in ruins. As they were the year before. Now worse."

"All hope's not lost, Ma," Maggie quickly said. "The next crop will be good. We still have five potatoes I put away." She looked confidently at her brother. "We'll survive, Paddy. We need to hang on until next year."

Patrick's forehead furrowed. "No, Maggie. Even if we could find enough food to see us through, there will be no crop next year or the year after that. Don't you see?"

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, or Ebook

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Excerpt Wednesday – 2 In 1: Hidden Desires & Weekend Swap – Weekend Swap

She shook her head. "No. I've got some ideas."

Kay propped her elbows on the table. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

Tyler laughed. "Since when have you needed my permission to ask? Ever since I've known you, you've just plowed right in."

Kay slowly let her breath out. "Are you attracted to Ed? Is that why—"

"Of course not! I mean he's good looking, but I definitely wouldn't want or expect anything more from him than a good fuck while you're getting fucked by Will."

Kay's face turned a deep shade of red. "Well, that's putting it bluntly."

"You asked. Come on, Kay, face it—that's all it would be. You might even enjoy yourself."

Torrid Books 
Simon & Schuster 
Amazon 
Barnes & Noble 
Google Play 
Kobo 
BAM 

Excerpt Wednesday – 2 In 1: Hidden Desires & Weekend Swap – Hidden Desires

His jaw twitched. He couldn't help himself. Innocent, naive women challenged him, now more than ever since he'd lost the love of his life. Sage Ralston would be a challenge, and it had been too long since he'd had just such a confrontation. She'd led a sheltered life, had few friends, and a strict upbringing--all the ingredients to mold her into the woman who'd be perfect for him. He'd show her a world she'd never known, and once she entered his world, she'd be eager to stay.

She was a beauty. Her slim body, slightly rounded breasts, small hips and those clear green eyes, as she innocently looked at him, made him grow hard. He imagined running his hands through that beautiful auburn hair as he laid her on the bed and mounted her. It would be soon…very soon. She would make him forget all about the other woman…at least for a while.

Torrid Books 
Simon & Schuster 
Amazon 
Barnes & Noble 
Google Play 
Kobo 
BAM

Excerpt Wednesday – Sparks And Cabin Fever – Cabin Fever

He was even more gorgeous in the flickering candlelight. It took all of her willpower not to leap over the table and throw herself at him. Her heart beat erratically as she imagined his hands gliding over her naked flesh and teasing her nipples until she thought she would explode.

"Are you okay?"

She felt the wetness between her legs. Her face reddened. "I'm…I'm fine." She hoped he couldn't see her flushed face in the flickering candlelight. From the expression on his face she knew he had. She picked up her spoon with a trembling hand and continued eating.

Torrid Books 
Simon & Schuster 
Amazon 
Barnes & Noble 
Ebook Mall 
Google Play 
Kobo 
BAM

Excerpt Wednesday – Torrid Teasers 53 – Christmas Dreams

Morgan's eyes popped open. She patted the spot next to her. It was empty. She knew it would be, but a part of her had hoped it wouldn't be. It was only a dream. Davis? Why had she dreamed such an erotic dream about her best friend? It unsettled her. She climbed off the bed, grabbed a robe, pushed her feet into a pair of slippers, and padded to the kitchen. She fixed a cup of tea then brought it back into the living room and settled into her easy chair. Her hands shook as she set her cup of tea on the table next to her chair. The dream stayed fresh in her mind; it had seemed so real. Why had she dreamed about Davis? Her face reddened at the memory. She sucked in her breath unable to get his hauntingly gorgeous naked image out of her mind.

Torrid Books 
Simon & Schuster 
Amazon 
Barnes & Noble 
Google Play 
Kobo 
BAM