I totally admit that I really love anthology's. They are perfect bathtub reading, or bus reading, or lunch break reading... you get where I'm going here, right? For those times when you want to enjoy a story but life is dictating that you have a time limit on your peace and quiet. LoL
Anthology
Royals & Rogues
Sexy and we know it! They’re on the hunt after your heart. Discover 5
brand new passionate tales of royals, rogues, dreams, passion and conflict.
Escape with these modern tales, where happily ever after takes hard work,
determination, and some good, old fashioned royal luck.
On March 1st, discover the passionate Royals and Rogues with Shelli
Stevens, Carole Mortimer, Susan Stephens, Heather Long and J.C Makk.
Warning: Contains royal heroes and heroines, tempestuous
passion, second chances, roguish competition, and family ties binding them
together. Sometimes a royal’s greatest challenge is love…
Available for .99 (for a limited time) at...
TITLES INCLUDE:
Her Marine
Prince by Heather Long
Princess Francesca “Frankie” Grace has no interest in scandal or pomp and
circumstance. Her desire for a military career puts her on a collision course
with retired Marine Hugh Dillon.
Alexandre by
Carole Mortimer
Billionaire ruler of a Mediterranean principality, Prince Alexandre of
Androcco took one look at Anastazia Carmichael and knew he wanted her. And he’s
determined to have her. In his arms. In his bed. Any way he can get her.
Seducing the
Princess by Susan Stephens
Angel: The first time I met Gideon Black, I was a
teen who hated him with a passion that kept me awake at night.
Gideon: A tease at sixteen, Angel has grown into an irresistible,
kick-ass woman. I know exactly what I want to do to her—how thoroughly, and for
how long.
Corrupted by the
Prince by Shelli Stevens
On the heels of his worst scandal yet, Prince Kostas of Mykorini decides
to keep a low profile at his American beach home in the Hamptons. Taking a
lover isn't part of his plan until he meets Eva. Evelynn Fairchild knows she
should be wary of the bad boy prince, especially when she's considered the
levelheaded one in her high profile family. But one earth shattering kiss makes
her wonder if she should ditch her virginity status in what surely will be a
one-night stand.
His Royal
Redemption by J.C. Makk
Sir Antony Richarden is determined to win the King’s Favor, a prize which
will save his family estate and secure his nieces’ future. His only obstacle? Princess
Estelle of Dirksbee, the woman he left at the altar is going to make this
competition more than difficult. Never mind the fact he still has feelings for
Estelle…
Her Marine Prince Excerpt:
It took thirty minutes for her
and her bodyguards to clear customs. A week after discussing her desire with
her father, and she was on her way toward her goal. Her sisters would never
understand the drive to follow in their father’s footsteps. Sometimes Frankie
didn’t fully comprehend it. She wanted a life with meaning and purpose. Her
cousins fought to preserve their life and her mother—her grandmother—these
women lived as examples of aristocratic generosity. How did her cousin George
phrase it once?
“We won
the genetic lottery, though sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to
draw some normal numbers.”
Frankie appreciated the concept. Her father had been born into a military
family. He knew from a young age he would serve, and the only deviation from
his ordinary choices in life had been to fall in love with a princess. It
changed how he did things, how he had to view the world, yet he remained
himself even in light of her family’s eccentricities.
After collecting her suitcase,
Frankie continued to follow the line of foot traffic to the final stop on her
admission to the United States. The Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
was a major hub. The current lines testified to how many passengers disembarked
from their long flights from all over the world, cleared immigration and
customs before stepping onto a U.S. domestic flight or, as in her case, meet
the car sent to take her to her final destination.
When her turn came, she handed
over her declaration form and passport. The officer reviewed the information
then gave her a long studying look. “Purpose of visit?”
“Spending time at a fitness camp.
Vacation and study.” Not really a lie. It was a vacation of sorts, just a
working one.
“Welcome to the United States.”
He stamped her passport and returned it to her. After sliding it back into her
purse, she adjusted the strap before reclaiming her suitcase.
“Thank you.”
Three weeks to prove her
capabilities to her father. He promised her the man in charge of the Marine
fitness camp would not go easy on her. If she could demonstrate her proficiency
and get the sergeant to sign off on her readiness, her father would take her
case to both her mother and to Armand. Excitement curled through her belly as
she followed the wave of humanity down the long hallway toward the exit
terminal.
She almost wanted to bounce, a
highly improper way to behave. Anders and Ford had made it through ahead of
her. Once she was on the property, they would have to keep their distance but
any suggestion she’d made of going to the Georgia camp unescorted had been
nixed immediately.
The men had their own bags and
would usually offer to take hers, but with only two of them escorting her, she
understood they each needed a hand free. They were armed, their weapons having
been checked and certified prior to boarding and returned when they landed. At
no point could she recall her guards ever having to draw those weapons, and for
that she was grateful. Rose once had a bad experience after overdoing it at a
nightclub…
Of course, Rose had a lot of
experiences because of her behavior. With Anders leading and Ford close on her
flank, she followed them down the escalator to the main floor. Past the surges
greeting, waving and hugging, one man stood off to the side. Tall, he possessed
near perfect posture, dark eyes and a laser focus. The air seemed to back up in
her lungs when their gazes collided, and it took her a moment to process the
sign in his hands.
F.
Grace.
An inappropriate snicker damn
near escaped. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen her initial in front of her
last name, but rarely did she see it isolated alone on a placard. “That’s Hugh
Dillon,” Ford murmured from behind her. “He matches the identification we were
provided.”
So, this was the golden boy her
father respected enough to send her to him for training. Adjusting her course
to meet him, she shuffled her bags so she could extend her right hand. “Mr.
Dillon?”
For a split-second, surprise
registered in his midnight blue eyes. She’d thought they were black, they were
so dark, but up close she could see the deeper color present. “Princess Grace?”
Shock rippled in his tone and she stood there, one hand stretched out to him
while he blinked for three long heartbeats before he seemed to notice. His
strong grip enclosed her fingers in purely masculine warmth.
“Francesca. Princess Grace was
from Monaco and…” Well, she could explain how to handle proper address, but she
didn’t really want to go into the etiquette and protocol. “Why don’t you just
call me Frankie, please?”
“Frankie?” Southern hospitality
rolled through the syllables of her name and turned the excitement in her belly
to molten heat. The purely improper reaction added to the tingling sensation on
her skin where his hand still held hers. “Frankie is a guy from Brooklyn…which
you most definitely are not, lovely lady.”
Unable to fight the smile curving
her lips, she tugged her hand free. “Be that as it may, Mr. Dillon, I prefer
Frankie. Only my father calls me Francesca.”
He glanced from her to Anders and
Ford then back again. “I should probably refer to you as your highness or
ladyship?”
Fighting the urge to cringe, she
shook her head. “Not at all. Please. Frankie.”
He frowned then nodded slowly
before taking possession of her bag. “All right Frankie. I’m Hugh…” He glanced
at her bodyguards.
“Anders.”
“Ford.” The two men introduced
themselves in clipped, solemn tones before returning to their surveillance of
their surroundings.
“They are much friendlier when
we’re not surrounded by so many people.” She hadn’t wanted to surrender her
suitcase, but men like Hugh needed something to do when they were thrown off
kilter. Carrying her bag might not seem much, but she understood the desire.
“Fair enough. Do you have
anything else you need to pick up? I’m parked outside.” A smile creased his
firm mouth, but even as she grinned in response, the light didn’t quite reach
his eyes. After hours on a commercial flight, she could appreciate the desire.
Then again, were the guys going to let her travel in a vehicle they hadn’t
checked out?
Neither Anders nor Ford raised an
objection, so she nodded. “We have everything.”
Hugh lifted her suitcase then
raised his brows. “It’s light, considering.”
Considering what? She hadn’t
packed formals. “I packed what I’d need for training.” She could wear evening dresses
and heels with the best of them. She had plenty of practice. No need for them
at a boot camp. Her bodyguards stayed close, but once again bracketed her. They
must have checked out Dillon extensively, because neither tried to prevent him
from walking next to her.
Thank God. Of course, her father
made all the arrangements. If they couldn’t trust the major’s judgment, who
could they trust? Them trusting her trainer, however, meant she could get the
most out of the exercise.
“We’ll get you fitted for
fatigues on property. The first week, you won’t need them, but you will for
week two.” The clipped formality seemed at odds with his southern drawl.
“I can’t tell you how excited I
am. Papa said you run one of the best retired Marine operated fitness camps in
the United States.” Outside the terminal, moist air hit her like a slap. Hours
of recycled, almost too cool air, didn’t prepare her for the thickness of
humidity coating every single breath. She checked her watch, it was still early
in Atlanta and autumn. She’d done a lot of research about Hugh Dillon and
standard training for the USMC as well as what she needed to make on her
entrance exams and to pass her physical. Maybe
I should have researched the weather.
“We do a standard physical,” Hugh
said as he led the way from the terminal to the parking structure. Traffic
flowed around them, heavier than she expected. It was a major hub, but the
heavy traffic congested the roads circling the front of the terminal.
Fortunately, they were able to cross into the structure. “I scheduled yours for
this afternoon.”
“Very well, do we need to stop
somewhere on the way?”
“Nope.” An SUV’s alarm echoed as
he unlocked the doors, then the motor started while they were still a hundred
feet away. Anders strode ahead and checked beneath the vehicle. Long years of
habit had Frankie waiting with Ford. Pausing, Hugh frowned as he watched the
bodyguard then gave her a long assessing look. “Our physician will handle the
physical. He has your medical records and signed the nondisclosures your family
required.” No element of question, though instead of focusing on her, he
scanned the area around them.
She’d seen that look before.
Every single one of the family’s security agents possessed the watchful wariness
as they scanned their surroundings. For a split, second his gaze collided with
hers and his cool eyes warmed.
“I don’t think you have anything
to worry about while you’re here. The property is secure.”
“Anders and Ford believe in
cautious optimism.” Her shrug drew his bemused attention. At the questioning
raise of his brows, she grinned. “I can be optimistic. They’ll be cautious.”
A smile curved his firm lips, and
her heart did a little backflip. He really was quite handsome. The square jaw
and strong face hid emotion and wore expressionless well, but when he allowed
himself to relax, he transformed. Even his close-shaved haircut seemed to suit
him, softening what could have been a blocky appearance. Why am I paying so much attention to his physical details? He’s my
training officer. Well, he wasn’t technically an officer, and she didn’t
exactly report to him in a formal way, but he was in charge of her training.
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