Sometimes we
have to take a minute to be thankful, so I thought I’d look back a little at
someone whose presence in my life makes me thankful everyday. My mom died in
October, after a long illness. I was with her every step of the way, was her
caregiver for years, and she was always my best friend, from childhood to the
day she left me. I have a huge gratitude for the years I had with my mom, the
laughter we shared, and the life we shared after my dad passed away, when it was
just me and mom. She was an awesome lady, full of spirit, wicked humour, and
generosity. She was my first “fan” as a writer, and she believed in me even
when I was discouraged and wanted to give up. I think it’s too easy sometimes
to take the people we love for granted, so if you have parents, mates,
children... whoever it is that makes your life complete and a happy place, be
thankful. Once that light is gone from your world, it won’t ever come back.
Every day, my mom told me she loved me, and I told her... I’m thankful for
that, too, for the love, the wisdom she shared, and the years we had as
friends, as well as mother and daughter.
My mom
encouraged me to read at an early age, and was always happy to buy me books. I
loved fairytales as a child, and I still love them as an adult. I’ve taken two
of my favourites so far and turned them into slightly more adult tales. I had a
great time when I was able to combine my love of Italy with a fairytale that
originates in that country. It’s a great little story called Favola, which is
the Italian for fairytale–and the story itself is based on the original
fairytale called Bella Venezia. She would have loved my latest story, too - because it's set in Greece, and we often shared our Harlequin books set in Greece!
LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES: Volume I
Amazon Best-seller!
Available NOW!
99¢ for limited time at:
What if a life-changing letter arrived in today's mail? Now
imagine it leads to love and adventure! From the northern British Isles, across
the mainland of Europe, and on to Turkey, nine international romance writers
share spellbinding love stories told across time. And each begins with a
letter...
This collection includes contemporary and historical
romance, futuristic time travel romance, and romance touched by magic by
Award-winning and Multi-published Authors: Rose Anderson, Denyse Bridger, Lynn
Crain, Helena Fairfax, Gemma Juliana, Marie Laval, Cara Marsi, Lindsay
Townsend, and Jenny Twist.
ALL OR NOTHING:
Casino Coranthos is a
playground for wealthy, bored people, but for some, it’s also a place where
dreams and promises change lives forever. When a letter becomes part of an
unexpected inheritance for Ryann Thomson, her aunt’s past brings her face to
face with Ariston Katsaros, a man haunted by loss and driven by anger. As the
attraction between them sizzles and grows, can Ryann convince him she isn’t
looking to rob him or his father of anything, or will she become a casualty of
Ari’s vengeance? In this dangerous game of all or nothing, her heart is at
stake as well as her future happiness…
Excerpt:
Stepping from the elevator, Ryann’s
ears were assaulted by a surge of noises. The drone of many voices accompanied
the bells and whistles of slot machines. She crossed the lobby and the roar of
sound diminished considerably. The building was unique, the elite hotel housed
in the back of the sprawling structure, facing the azure beauty of the Aegean,
while the casino was in the front. It was like two worlds in one contained place.
“Mr. Demetriou has authorized an
account for you, Miss Thomson,” the cashier handed her a stack of coins
emblazoned with Casino Coranthos in gold on black.
“Thank you.” She took the roll of
coins and wandered into the casino’s main area. She’d barely stepped into the
bar when a voice close to her ear startled a gasp out of her.
“You must be Ryann Thomson.”
She looked up and was snared by the
intensity of dark eyes gazing down at her.
“I’m Ariston Katsaros, I run the
casino.”
She took a single step back. His
voice was pure sin and seduction, something he apparently was well aware of if
his smile was any indication.
“You work for Mr. Demetriou?”
For a moment, something flashed in
his eyes, so quickly it might have been a flash of the light.
“In a manner of speaking,” he
replied. “What is your game of choice?”
“Baccarat.” She tried to keep the
smile on her face when the word popped out of her mouth. Too many James Bond movies!
Ariston Katsaros slowly nodded, his
mouth curving into a smile. “Then allow me to join you in a game.”
Shit!
What am I doing?! Her insides were quivering like someone had unleashed a
torrent of butterflies, and she couldn’t decide if it was the handsome man at
her side, or the sense that she was about to make a complete fool of herself.
The situation got even more unreal
to her when he passed through the main casino and entered a much quieter area.
“Is this where the big money is?”
She asked, grateful when her voice didn’t squeak.
“Not really,” he said with a laugh.
“It is where high stakes games are sometimes played, but mostly it’s a question
of privacy for some of our guests.”
There was an inflection in his tone
that eluded her, and she sat when he held a chair for her at the table he’d
chosen. She took a moment to look around and her nerves thrummed with tension.
There were only a few tables in the spacious room, separated by enough space to
make each one private. The one he’d brought her to was in the centre. Her
heartbeat began a steady pulse that hammered at her brain for a couple of
seconds.
“Would you like a drink?”
It took a moment to process his
words and she blinked. “Vodka martini.”
Ariston’s smooth features
transformed into a grin. “Shaken, not stirred?”
Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she
laughed. “Why not?”
“Should I call you Mrs. Bond?”
“That would make you Mr. Bond,
wouldn’t it?”
The laughter died in his eyes. “Do
you have a preference for game?”
“Punto banco.”
One eyebrow arched and he bowed his
head. “Well chosen.”
He turned to the waitress who’d
discreetly approached them and ordered drinks before sitting next to her. A few
moments later the croupier joined them, and the shoe, containing at least four
decks of cards, appeared on the surface of the table. Drinks arrived, along
with a single dealer, and the game began when the croupier directed Ariston to
draw the first cards.
Several hands were played before
either of them spoke again.
“What brings you to Coranthos?”
She accepted a third card and held
up her hand to stand pat, then smiled at her companion. “I’m here to deliver a
gift to the owner, Lukas Demetriou. He and my late aunt knew each other
twenty-five years ago.”
For an instant his smile froze. A
kiss of unease touched the back of her neck and she turned aside, picking up
her drink to avoid meeting his gaze.
“The gift you bring must be very
valuable for you to have made such a long journey.”
There was a note in his voice she
couldn’t define. Steeling herself, she finished the martini and glanced at him
again. “I hope he’ll think so.” She extended her hand to him. “Thank you for
the drink, Mr. Katsaros.”
He stood with her, brought her hand
to his lips and dropped a light kiss on her fingers. The brush of contact, like
a feathery whisper, woke a quiver of response deep inside her. This man was
dangerous, at least to her. He was very tall, his inky black hair trimmed and
styled to perfectly frame arresting features. Dark eyes, almost the same
midnight shade as his hair, were watchful and alert. He saw everything. Despite
the casual suit he wore, she sensed a power seething inside him that was on a
par with the force of nature.
* * * * *
Also includes: MORE THAN
WISHES by Rose Anderson, SEALED WITH A KISS by Lynn Crain, COME DATE ME IN
PARIS by Helena Fairfax, ABANDONED TREASURES by Gemma Juliana, SONS OF THE WIND
by Marie Laval, CURATING LOVE by Cara Marsi, PLAIN HARRY by Lindsay Townsend,
and THE MINSTREL BOY by Jenny Twist
LETTERBOX LOVE STORIES: Vol I
99¢ for limited time
at:
Customer Reviews
(ALL Amazon Verified Purchases)
***** By JINHOU on July 6, 2016 “The heroes are yummy, the heroines
delightful, and the settings amazing!”
***** By Sue M. Van on July 7, 2016 “An excellent read to all the
stories in this boxed set.”
**** By J Morgan on July 10, 2016 “Through the well-crafted short
stories, I got to travel and never left the comfort of my front porch. At a
price of 99 cents, it’s a real deal.”
***** By CA romantic on July 9, 2016 “The collection takes you around
the world and from the present into the past. I love the adventure in the
stories, and the characters drew me in and made me root for their
happily-ever-afters.”
