Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Chance by Lynn Raye Harris
Wild Heart by A.K. Evans
Inheriting Miss Fortune by Lucy Lennox
Lead Like a Bodyguard
Fifty Two Timeless Leadership Lessons
Business Nonfiction / Christian
Date Published: September 11, 2024
Discover important lessons on leadership and life from one of the Bible's most inspiring figures, Nehemiah.
Does this sound familiar? A leadership opportunity is presenting itself, but you feel it's unlikely that you're the best fit. Perhaps you are new to leadership, have plateaued in your position, or have doubts about your role or line of work.
Whether in your family, church, coaching, volunteer organization, or business, leading is never easy, but there is guidance that can make a world of difference.
There was once an ancient bodyguard serving the most powerful man in the world who unexpectedly found himself called to spearhead a massive project nine hundred miles from his home. His otherwise stable existence was shattered by news that changed his life and the destinies of thousands. This humble bodyguard servant was Nehemiah.
Nehemiah's story will fascinate, energize, and inspire you to decipher the leadership puzzle with vigor. Lead Like a Bodyguard will become your wise and indispensable companion for the journey ahead, combining dramatized depictions of his story with deep and insightful analysis in the form of 52 Bodyguard Leadership Tactics.
Let Nehemiah show you how to take the lead!
About the Author
Dr. Don Mark Hamilton is an ordinary person called by God to do uncommon things. Don served thirty-eight years at a church he re-planted, watching it grow and thrive throughout his tenure. Vibrant church highly impacted the entire central Pennsylvania region through deep community involvement and creating a large campus and programs designed to bless the community, especially those with special needs. The congregation partnered to start over twenty new churches both domestically and internationally. Don serves on numerous boards of directors and in leadership positions for conferences and various non-profit organizations. As a dedicated blogger, Don’s weekly anecdotes are read by thousands of readers. He is now a speaker, blogger, author, and consultant for churches and non-profits. Don lives in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
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Dark Legion
Dark Fantasy, Romance, Horror
Date Published: October 18, 2024
Darkness is falling...
Things at Woods University are not what they seem. When Joey Sumner's roommate Maria joins the growing ranks of blazer-wearing supergeeks who roam the campus in emotionless packs, Joey begins to think she has a problem. Then Joey stumbles upon a secret ritual being performed on campus, and her world is turned upside down. Joey and her boyfriend Will are forced to fight for their lives against an ancient evil cult that is preying on the student body. To make matters worse, their boss is one of them, and his obsession for Joey goes way beyond thinking she has a cute ass...
Evil is growing...
A year after the mysterious death of her husband Terrence, Ada Ross is still seeking answers. When handsome detective Eric Perfater comes back into her life offering a chance to unravel the mystery of her husband's demise, Ada is more than ready to help. She's also willing to throw off her endless loneliness and wantonly offer herself to sexy Eric in bed... But a dark shadow falls across their chance at happiness. Ada is a pawn in a desperate man's ploy to hang onto the past and take control of a secret society whose very existence threatens the entire world.
Can the forces of evil's hungry claws be defeated? Or will they all be consumed by the Dark Legion?
Publisher's Note: This duet contains the previously published novellas Legion: University and Legion: Adult Education.
Excerpt from University
"You're late, G.I. Jane." Will Martin winked at her as she walked into the lab where they worked together and pulled the backpack from her shoulder.
Joey grinned at him, a big stupid grin no doubt, but she didn't care.
With his golden skin, sun-streaked hair and powerful body, Will was nobody's idea of a geeky scientist. Tall, handsome, with a bold nose, a sexy mouth and dark blue eyes that could glitter with humor or darken to the color of a stormy sea. Joey had never seen such a perfect blend of beauty and intelligence in any other man. In the realm of science there was no challenge he wouldn't take on, no subject he wouldn't tackle. Even Joey with her very limited knowledge of virology knew that Will was well on his way to making a difference in the world. It wouldn't surprise her if he were the one to someday find a cure for the AIDS virus, ending the suffering and death of millions. She had that much faith in him.
His brilliant mind fascinated her almost as much as his hot, muscular body and that was saying a lot. How many times had she satisfied herself while thinking about Will? How many late night dreams had he haunted? The touch of his rough hands on her aching breasts always felt so real in her dreams, so good. She'd swear that the solid length of his body between her thighs, the sensual glide of his cock in and out of her slick, ready passage were a reality while she was dreaming.
Until she woke up in a sweaty tangle of bed sheets. After several seconds of swearing and sometimes several more seconds with her vibrator, she could usually get back to sleep. But not always. Sometimes she'd lie there and think of clever ways to ask him out. A couple of times she even meant to carry out her plans to ask him out to dinner, then maybe even ask him to her bed. But she always chickened out at the last moment.
Joey grabbed her lab coat from its peg on the wall and watched Will as she slipped it on. Will had no idea that she was totally infatuated with him and she was afraid to make a move. They worked together after all. He was a brilliant scientist. She was just a girl who'd gone into the army to pay for college on the G.I. Bill and was now a way-older-than-average freshman. Joey continued to watch him as he scribbled notes on a steno pad and peered into the microscope before him, his muscular upper body straining against the lab coat he wore. How could someone like her ever hope to get the attention of someone like him?
"That's new." Dr. Rafe Bowen caught her off guard. Hooking the golden charm bracelet that circled her wrist with a long finger, he pulled her arm up to scrutinize it before releasing her.
"Yes," she said, recovering from the start. "It was a gift."
"From whom?" he asked in his clipped British accent, his hazel eyes watching her intently.
Her eyes darted to Will. But he didn't appear to be paying attention to their conversation. Damn him! "My sister," Joey answered blandly.
Rafe Bowen nodded, but continued to gaze at her speculatively. Rafe was her supervisor in the lab. He was a handsome man with his chestnut hair and well-defined, cultured features. He wasn't as tall as Will, his build average. From what little she knew of him he was probably in his early forties but he looked remarkably young for his age. He could pass for someone in his early thirties easily. It helped that he was easy to work for and generous with his time. He taught several virology courses in addition to his research.
Joey had long suspected that her boss had more than a passing interest in her. Rafe would stare at her when he thought she wasn't looking and it made Joey pretty damned uncomfortable. He'd always insisted that she call him by his given name, though she never had. But he'd given her a job when she'd given up hope of finding one. That alone had made her first year at Woods University much easier than it could have been for a twenty-five-year-old freshman.
"Why are you two here?" he asked, frowning.
Joey exchanged a glance with Will and let him answer.
"Next week is spring break," Will pointed out. "If we don't run the analysis on the Aspergillus cultures now, we'll lose them. They won't be any good when we get back."
Joey couldn't help with the analysis, wouldn't know how. She knew that Aspergillus was a mold and a respiratory allergen but that was about it.
But the money sure would come in handy.
"What about tomorrow and Friday?"
"Exams," Will and Joey answered in unison.
Rafe blew out a frustrated sigh. "You're not staying long. I have to be at a meeting in an hour."
"We'll lock up," Will assured him.
Joey's heart began thumping in earnest. Alone with Will Martin? Oh, yes, that would be fine.
Rafe's expression grew darker. It wasn't like him.
"You'll leave when I do," he said curtly. When it appeared Will was about to say something else, he added, "End of discussion."
Will's gaze followed him as Rafe marched to his office and closed the door behind him. He shook his head, giving Joey a sardonic half smile.
"What crawled up his ass today?" Will glanced up at the lab's clock, prompting her to do the same. It was five minutes to six in the evening. "Want to get started on prep?"
Joey nodded and walked to the autoclave on the counter opposite the lab door. Pulling open the door, she frowned when she found it empty.
"Crap! Someone took all the instruments I autoclaved last night," Joey grumbled. How would they have time to do anything now if she had to sterilize more instruments?
Will glanced over his shoulder at her but didn't seem concerned. "Turner probably took them for his class, that lazy asshole. Just sterilize some more. We've got time."
Joey motioned toward Rafe's office with her thumb.
"Let me worry about him." Will waved her on.
When Joey hesitated he smiled, a flash of white teeth. Her nipples tightened to hard little points in an instant.
"Go on." He motioned her to continue with her work. "How's your French class going?"
I know all the dirty words. I could recite them for you.
"I'm doing okay." Wasn't that a waste of a good conversation opener? Think! "I've really enjoyed the biology labs. The experiments have been very interesting."
"Yeah?" Will's back was to her. He kept right on with his work. "Which ones interested you the most?"
Her mind went blank. That would teach her to use something she had little interest in to get his attention. Shit! "The genetics experiments," she finally answered. She knew there had been a couple.
"I think the corn genetics experiment is the best that they offer." He paused a moment as he read over his notes. "Morten had a good idea there. Students get to germinate and grow F2 corn seeds and determine the inheritance pattern of the albino trait and what the P and F2 generations' genotypes must have been. Did you like that one?"
"I did." Joey remembered it anyway.
"We might make a scientist out of you yet." Will peered at her over his shoulder. "What are your plans for your time here? I don't think I've ever asked you that."
Her mouth went dry.
To jump your bones?
About the Author
Isabella Jordan is the alter ego of an otherwise stressed out web designer, programmer, and internet junkie. When she's not trying to perfect her own personal caffeine IV drip, she enjoys spending time with her family, doing volunteer work, and writing. She loves creating new stories of all kinds and chatting with readers and friends.
Isabella would love to hear from her readers!
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
#HotAndHandy
#HotAndHandy
Lynne Hancock Pearson
Publication date: October 15th 2024
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Everyone in town loves the handsome handyman.
Everyone except his new neighbor.Out of jail and desperate for work, Vincent scrapes by with odd jobs. He’s hired to help the gray-haired lady move in next door but stumbles when he finds nothing old or feeble about Hilary.
Rejected by her husband after her body rejected implants, the breast cancer survivor shuts out Vincent until a kitchen appliance crisis forces her to accept his help. Convinced that he could do better, she keeps the younger man at a distance, but he persists, building her confidence and coaxing her out of her colorless cocoon.
With the hot handyman by her side and in her bed, Hilary develops a community program bringing at-risk youth into the building trades. But not everyone wants to see the ex-con succeed. An old foe is determined to derail Vincent, and Hilary is caught in the chaos.
She’s ready to retreat. Ready to leave everything behind—including Vincent.
Can he convince her to stay?#HotAndHandy is a small-town, reverse age-gap romance between two people starting over after being kicked to the curb by life and love.
—
EXCERPT:
It was Friday, and Vincent hadn’t seen Hilary all week, even though they shared the same address. They’d texted, though, and agreed to happy hour on her deck, with him bringing the drinks and her providing the food. Taking the stairs two at a time, he smiled at his own eagerness. Last week was great. Her enthusiasm for setting up the training program was contagious. Tonight, they would work on a proposal to present to Iris and Ali, to get KBS on board. And hopefully, they’d do some more kissing. He stopped himself from thinking beyond that. After all Hilary had been through, he did not want to rush her. His cock argued otherwise; thus Vincent started and ended each day with a cold shower.
He shifted the six-pack of beer and bottle of wine in his arms to rap on the door. No one answered. Glancing over to the driveway, he confirmed Hilary’s car and bicycle were both there. Through the windows of the French doors, he saw her purse and car keys sitting on the counter so he tried the doorknob. Unlocked, he pushed the door open and called, “Hey, you okay?”
“Not really. Can you come back here?”
Dropping the booze on the table, he hustled to the bedroom, expecting more blood. The room was empty. “Hilary?”
Her voice came from the en suite bathroom. “In here.”
He peeked in to find her rooted to the floor, arms crossed over her chest, facing away from the door. Seeking her reflection in the mirror, he caught the disgusted look on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“There was a huge-ass spider. It startled me, and I dropped my glass, which shattered on the floor. I can’t move because I’m afraid I’ll cut myself.”
“I’m thinking you should give up day drinking,” he said, taking in the broken glass and Hilary’s bare feet.
“It was a glass of water.”
“Maybe buy plastic stuff. You and glass don’t seem to get along.” He grinned at her growl of annoyance.
From his examination of the floor, his eyes moved upward and widened. She wore bright pink panties and a matching camisole. Nothing else. He swallowed. With clothes, she was hot. Without, she was dynamite. Long firm legs, tight rounded ass, flat belly, and toned arms. She may not have tits, but Hilary was sexy as hell.
“Are you going to stare, or are you going to help me?” Bright red dots sat high on her cheekbones.
He cleared his throat. “Yeah, umm…give me a second.” He pulled off his T-shirt and placed it on the floor at the base of Hilary’s bed. Then he leaned into the bathroom and grabbed a hand towel from the rack. “I’m going to wipe down the backs of your legs in case there are any pieces of glass on them.” Glass crunched beneath him, and he was thankful to be wearing shoes. He crouched, and carefully ran the towel down the backs of her thighs and calves. She tightened at his touch, and he heard a sharp intake of breath. He spoke gently as he would to a wild animal, “Your legs look fine. I’m going to pick you up and put you on the end of the bed. We’ll do the fronts of your legs, and then your feet.” He glanced up to catch her nod, then tossed the towel over his shoulder as he rose to stand next to her. A pulse beat rapidly in the hollow of her throat. He grinned at her reflection. “I promise not to drop you.” With one arm behind her knees and one arm around her shoulders, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He placed her down so her feet were above his T-shirt on the floor, and knelt in front of her. Her slim foot was silky smooth, and he concentrated on looking at the skin of her legs and feet, trying not to inhale the provocative scent emanating from the juncture of her thighs. “I didn’t know you were afraid of spiders.”
She huffed and crossed her arms again. “I’m not afraid. It startled me. Did I not mention it was a huge-ass spider? It had to be the size of a dinner plate.”
“Really?” He sat back on his heels, trying not to smile. “And what happened to it?”
“I don’t know.” She waved an arm in dismissal. “It probably scuttled back down the drain, laughing at me. I’m surprised you didn’t hear me scream.”
He picked up his T-shirt and wrapped the towel in it, chuckling as he stood. “I didn’t see any glass, but I’m going to shake these out over the garbage can and put them on the washing machine. Then I’ll grab the vacuum cleaner. Don’t move until I get back. There might be bits of glass in the carpet by the door.” Looking up, he caught her gaze on his chest and abs…and lower. He slowly straightened, not bothering to conceal the proof of his arousal.
The red spots were back in her cheeks. “Fine. I’ll be here.”
Author Bio:
Lynne Hancock Pearson writes fun, flirty, feel-good fiction that simmers at low heat. Set in the Pacific Northwest, they are stories of people finding their way, even if it takes a while to get there.
She lives near Seattle with two and a half finicky felines and one long-suffering husband. She is a left-handed middle child who grew up in the Great White North and is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Canada.
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