My Shameless Pimping of Judi Fennell & Her Gather.com First Chapter Contest Entry

My friend Judi Fennell has an entry in the new Gather.com First Chapter Contest.

In Over Her Head is a delightful story full of humor, romance and suspense. Click Here to read her entry and vote at Gather.com. I know you'll be hooked.

Judi needs your vote to advance to the next round. The winner will receive a book deal with Simon & Schuster. You can be a part of making her dream come true, and giving the world a talented new author.

Check out Judi's Website for more details and view her cool Book Trailer.

Just when you thought it was safe to fall in love...
Below is the blurb and Judi's personal message on how to vote.

As always, thanks for reading.
Donna Michaels

In Over Her Head
by Judi Fennell

When Erica Peck, one terrified-of-the-ocean marina owner, finds herself at the bottom of the sea conversing with a merman named Reel, she thinks she’s died and gone to her own version of Hell.

When the Oceanic Council demands she and Reel retrieve a lost cache of diamonds from the resident sea monster in return for their lives, she knows she’s died and gone to Hell.

When they escape the monster and end up on a deserted island, she amends her opinion - she’s died and gone to Heaven.But when Reel sacrifices himself to allow her to return to her world, she realizes that, Heaven or Hell, with Reel, she’s In Over Her Head.

A Message From Judi:

Many of you may recognize my name from the recent American Title contest or the original Gather.com/Simon & Schuster First Chapters Contest. My manuscript, Beauty and The Best, was a finalist in each of these contests - the ONLY Romance in the Top 20 of the Gather.com contest (out of over 2,600 entries from all genres of fiction).

My latest manuscript, In Over Her Head, is entered in the NEW version of the Gather.com contest, which is strictly for Romance.

Like American Idol, the Gather contest allows the public to help select the winners. Votes of 10 are the only ones that count and those entries with the most 10s advance to Round 2. There are two rounds of voting, August 27 - Sept 18 and Sept 24 - Oct 8.

Donna has been kind enough to feature my entry and I’d love for you to come check it out. The first chapter is up and awaiting your votes.

To vote:

1. Click on the link to go to my entry.

2. Click on JOIN TODAY in the upper right corner.

3. Complete the information on the left side. IMPORTANT: Write down your username and password. Password CANNOT be longer than 6 characters.

4. Click SIGN UP - IT’S FREE.

5. This will take you back to my entry. Read/page down through my entry and click on the 10 star. Be careful, because once you click on a star, your vote is registered. ONLY 10s count!! And leave a comment - Gather.com is giving out Borders gift cards for the best comment and the number of unique comments counts toward the final score!

6. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc.! That’s it!Thank you so very much and I hope you enjoy Erica and Reel’s adventure! And please feel free to stop by my website to see more of my work. http://www.judifennell.com/

My First Paranormal-THE HUNTED-Released Today!!

The Hunted
by Donna Michaels
Available now at The Wild Rose Press
11 pages Spicy


BLURB

When a bullet interrupts their intimate rendezvous at a Mayan ruin, Jaden Quantrill and her now wounded lover, Raphael Estes, escape into the Mexican jungle with four armed men on their trail. Tired of running, and at Raphael’s insistence, Jaden answers the call of her wild—the jaguar within—and soon the hunters become The Hunted.


EXCERPT

A crack, like board hitting board, echoed through the Steles, stone blocks, before something thudded the ground by her ear and tore at her hair.

“Ouch. What was that?” She looked up at Raphael and gasped.

Blood flowed from a hole in his chest, streaking down his torso into the earth at his knee. With a growl, he fell on top of her and rolled them into the cover of the jungle.

“Raphael! Raphael, are you all right?” She moved from underneath to roll him onto his back. Blood continued to flow from his wound, but at a slower pace.

“No, although, I will be.” He squeezed her hand and looked her up and down. “The bullet went clear through. Thank God it didn’t hit you.”

“Bullet?” She leaned over him to draw in a breath. “It wasn’t silver.”

“No. It’s my guess they’re just thrill-seeking poachers.” He struggled to his feet. “But we have to go. They’ve started to track us.”

*************

Thanks for reading,

Donna Michaels
www.donnamichaelsauthor.com

Check out the cover to THE HUNTED

Nicola did a wonderful job on the cover to my upcoming Black Rose Rosette paranormal release, The Hunted.

BLURB

When a bullet interrupts their intimate rendezvous at a Mayan ruin, Jaden Quantrill and her now wounded lover, Raphael Estes, escape into the Mexican jungle with four armed men on their trail. Tired of running, and at Raphael’s insistence, Jaden answers the call of her wild—the jaguar within—and soon the hunters become The Hunted.

Keep an eye here for release news. Thanks.

RESCUED HEART Released!!

Rescued Heart
By Donna Michaels
Romantic Action/Suspense
24 pages
Available now at Forbidden Publications

Blurb

Lt. Fallon Carter is on a mission; an unauthorized mission to rescue the man she loves, Cpt. Kade Taggart, her commander and secret lover for the past few months.

Captured during a failed assignment, thanks to a mole in their team, he’s in the hands of the enemy and she can’t trust anyone but herself to go in and get him out. Will she be too late? Can she flush out the mole and safely rescue the man who holds her heart?


Excerpt

This is bad.

Lt. Fallon Carter stood at attention with her three remaining team members when Colonel Hampton entered the briefing room. Her heart rocked into her ribs at his serious expression. Something was terribly wrong.

“At ease. Take a seat.” The air crackled with tension while her squad waited for the brass to explain their visit. “As of 0800, Recon Team has failed to complete their mission.”

Kade.

Her ability to move or breathe ceased as the news registered in her rapidly numbing brain. Only death would stop him from completing a mission.

“Lieutenant Eric Saunders was wounded. He’s being treated and debriefed as we speak.” The Colonel paused and looked around the room.

Breath still held, she waited for him to continue. For the first time in her life, she was scared.

“Commander Kade Taggart was captured.”

No!

She clamped her jaw to keep from crying out. No one must know of the personal hell the Colonel’s words caused. Calm on the outside, her mind raced into action. Thankful to hear the man she loved was alive, she knew something was off. Captain Kade Taggart was too smart to let that happen. He analyzed his missions carefully, allowing for every possible scenario. This didn’t make sense.

Her eyes scanned the others in the room. McGee, Sawyer, Lucy. Instinct told her this was the work of a traitor. But who? For the past year she’d trusted all of them with her life. Looking from face to face, no one appeared guilty. Her gut didn’t agree. She sighed inwardly. All signs logically pointed to Eric, but he lay in quarantine, and she had no hope of speaking to him.
The room remained silent as the debriefing continued, and it wasn’t until it was over that someone spoke up.

“Colonel Hampton, Sir.” McGee stood, gaining the departing man’s attention. “What’s being done about the commander? Will there be a rescue mission?”

Her pulse quickened. She watched the colonel intently. She’d be the first to volunteer.

“The State Department’s aware of the circumstances. Until we get word from them, they’ll be no rescue.”

*********************

Thanks for reading.

Donna Michaels
http://www.donnamichaelsauthor.com/

NEGATIVE IMAGE is Released!

Negative Image
By Donna Michaels
Available now at The Wild Rose Press



13 pages--Sensual

Blurb

Photographer Lisa Clarke thought working the Senator’s Inaugural Ball would be just another job. But when she inadvertently photographs a serial killer with his next victim, her easy assignment turns into a life or death situation. When the killer targets Lisa, she’s put into police protection and faces danger of another kind. Sexy Detective Dean Jennings.

Lisa and Dean give into their fiery attraction, but their interlude is cut short by the killer. With their wits as their only weapon, will they be able to outsmart a killer bent on revenge? Or will their passion-filled night cost them their lives?


Excerpt

“Okay. You can look now.” Bringing them to a halt, he removed his hand from her eyes and she gasped.

Washed in a romantic glow, the cozy living room sported an assortment of candles and dinner for two. She turned to him. “How did you…when did you?”

Mischief sparkled in his green eyes. “When you were taking your shower.”

“Oh, that explains it.” Swaying into him, she slid her hands over the shadowed ridges of his chest and playfully pouted. “I was wondering why you didn’t join me.”

He growled and crushed her close. Mouth parted, she eagerly awaiting his searing kiss.

It never came.

His hungry expression turned to alarm. Stiffening, he released her and scanned the room.

Fear quickened her pulse. Throat dry, she touched his elbow. “Dean, what is it? What’s wrong?”

“Something’s…off. I need to get you out of here. Now!”

************************
Thanks for reading.

Donna Michaels

The Money Bunny by JT Schultz is Released!!

The Money Bunny -

Available Now! From Forbidden Publications

Blurb:

A bunny on a bus?

Jackson Hunter thought he had seen it all until one bad day forces him to take the bus. A nutcase in a bunny outfit and designer sunglasses hops on, gives out money in a card to every passenger, then hops off. Chasing the bunny down a sidewalk after it hops away is weirder. Finding out the beautiful blonde at a bar that has caught his eye is not only the runaway rabbit, but the lawyer suing him sends the fur flying and leads to some fancy footwork.

Attorney Abigail Crosby has it all. She also has zero patience for Hunter Industries, the company that plans to destroy the neighborhood she grew up in and leave families without affordable housing. How was she to know that the hunk on the bus could fill the void in her life that she never noticed before? Only after great conversation, shared meals, and mind-blowing sex she discovers that he is the defendant. With the court date fast approaching, emotions are running high. Can she pull a rabbit out of her hat, saving her career and what she has with Jack, or in the end will it boil down to the money bunny?

Excerpt:

His voice alone caressed her skin and she fought for composure. Abby had reminded herself she was an attorney, and had forced herself to speak, but telling him that stalking was illegal may not have been her best move.

Suave, real suave in winning over Prince Charming. Her cheeks stung. Yep, undoubted, she was blushing. Son of a bitch! To think, I’m a professional.

“I’m sure I would have remembered if we had met.” His voice was deep, sexy, and she highly doubted it was meant to turn her on. Or was it?

“Um, I guess you wouldn’t believe me…”

Something flickered in his dark, brown eyes and they sparkled. His long, jet-black lashes blinked in disbelief as he leaned in closer to her. The smell of his cologne affected her the same way it had on the bus earlier that day. When his nose brushed lightly against her neck up to her ear, her skin heated and her breath was lost. Her nipples tightened beneath the light fabric from his skin touching hers. The air sucked out of her lungs and rational thought--hell any thought had vanished.

“I received an envelope today that smelled as wonderful as you.”

Inhaling sharply, she stepped back, blinked, and glanced around. “How did you know?”
His warm chuckle filled the air, warming it and her body considerably. His eyes danced. “I didn’t until you spoke.”

“Please don’t tell.” She barely heard her voice; how was he supposed to hear her?

“I won’t.” His smile was broad, making him even sexier and her thong damp. “I didn’t think I would see you again.”

“What are you doing here?” She glanced to the drink in his hand. Talk about a stupid question.

“Well, contrary to what you may think, I’m not stalking you, but if I had known it was one of the options, I may have considered it.” He laughed. The sound was incredible and turned her on. “I was checking out a blonde and thinking honestly of another woman in a bunny outfit that I would never see again.” His expression had grown more serious and his voice had become quieter.

“And now that you know that they are one in the same?” Why did he make her nervous? Right-- gorgeous, tall, dark, and downright delicious in a really expensive suit.

“I’m amazed that we are again in the same spot at the same time.” His brows furrowed. “And I’m wondering if I will be able to get your name.”

Okay, he is also charming. “I’m Abby.”

“Abby, I like it. I’m Jack, and now that we have that out of the way, what would it take to convince you to leave this place with me for something quieter?”

“An answer.” She wasn’t coy by nature, but then again, nature didn’t normally have the hunkiest man in the world cross her path twice in the same day.

“Well, I have an answer, what would be the question.”

Here goes nothing. “Your place or mine?”

RAINING MEN by JT Schultz is released!!

Announcing the release of JT's fun, sexy--LMAO read

Raining Men.

Available at: Forbidden Publications & JT'S Website.

Here's the blurb:

A ball player, a police officer and a fireman oh my!

It’s raining men and the weather outside is hunky, hunkier and hot! At least gallery owner Charly Jamison is convinced after moving from New York back to California. Her closest friends are nearby and its miles away from a stalker. The only other woman on the block where she lives, is a sweet little church lady that has “messages” for her and there is a gorgeous man at every turn.

All the men in her life want her, while there is only one man that holds her heart. Her friends are crazier than she is and she’s the one living a double life painting erotic pictures under an alias--Joey Sinn. Not a problem, every man in the world wants her too. Charly’s gallery opening fast approaches, the threats of the stalker are back into full swing and her life spins into a downpour of wrong, but more than delicious men. Who will save her? Will it be the man she loves and in the end, will he love her too?

Enjoy your copy today!