RJ Scott - Test Upgrade

News, Links and Texas 4 & Sanctuary 7 news

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6k9J0JKN0gedUIqr6pGf8L_awVv_-8vsrrP4YR99wXV5768fBD_xoFoiRhMcDYqvMgM8WN7y276zD2xvoK3PeP0SaTC7ESpEuBKeZA3mmcvEGm_YVjLQj8ngxfgs8kOJiM8NDaq7LH4/s1600/TheGuiltyWerewolf6x9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6k9J0JKN0gedUIqr6pGf8L_awVv_-8vsrrP4YR99wXV5768fBD_xoFoiRhMcDYqvMgM8WN7y276zD2xvoK3PeP0SaTC7ESpEuBKeZA3mmcvEGm_YVjLQj8ngxfgs8kOJiM8NDaq7LH4/s400/TheGuiltyWerewolf6x9.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Hello It's been a busy February so far for me. After everything that happened in October and November with Silver I have got my head down and written so many words!! Unfortunately it just so happens that the release dates for these books all seem to coincide in February, March and April this year... I know it's probably been a little confusing keeping up with everything what with new cover art, new releases, re-releases of old books... and it goes on. I apologise. At least I am through the other side of the worst and am just waiting for money and for my rights back on the remainder of my books. News My Supernatural Bounty Hunter's series with Extasy is now planned to span 6 books, instead of 3. This means I have ample time to build my world of the Glitnir Court, Werewolfs Vampires, Fae and a touch of magic... Book 1 is doing well and has received some really nice reviews which makes me smile. :) My Ellery Mountain series with TEB is now marked to be 6 books, instead of 5. The sixth book is about an ex SEAL who goes to Daniel for help... and ends up spotting a bartender he wants to get to know. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaMXLbjaTn_s72ZQ9PgRMIsHt2aR1ed7Ht2L4YSX4hgSnoNPADmdXK3pAfZqZUTpqbCMtxteDtXlhjIwVWu5JwQp0-T5YlIxioYX9-cEBuGKKAztNad0RiVe2t33-gQUGxthbmeu_xDU/s1600/Worlds-Collide-600x900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRaMXLbjaTn_s72ZQ9PgRMIsHt2aR1ed7Ht2L4YSX4hgSnoNPADmdXK3pAfZqZUTpqbCMtxteDtXlhjIwVWu5JwQp0-T5YlIxioYX9-cEBuGKKAztNad0RiVe2t33-gQUGxthbmeu_xDU/s400/Worlds-Collide-600x900.jpg" width="266" /></a>In answer to the many emails (thank you guys) I have had to put Texas 4 (Texas Family) on hold. As much as I want to write it I can't all the time that Silver have the rights to Texas 2 (Texas Winter) and Texas 3 (Texas Heat). I should have news for you all soon. Sanctuary 7 (Worlds Collide) has a new available date of 30 March, this is to give me some breathing room to make sure I give Dale and Joseph the best happy ever after I can. I had lovely new art for it this week which I am proudly displaying here! Bitter Grace did an awesome job capturing Dale, Joseph, snow, an airport and I LOVE it. New Publisher's Links As you all know I have two new publishers that have taken a chance on me. And I want to publicly thank them both for the incredible support and encouragement that they have given me over the past few months. Total E-Bound have my Ellery Mountain Series, starting with The Fireman and the Cop, with The Teacher and the Soldier out in March. They also contracted co-authored books with Amber Kell based around a human detective stuck solving paranormal mysteries, much against his best intentions. My book page at Total E-Bound can be found <a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=272" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Of course they also have Montanna Sky, which is due to hit an e-reader near you August 2013. eXtasy Books have my six book series, Supernatural Bounty Hunters, which began with the Vampire Contract and continues with The Guilty Werewolf in March. My book page at eXtasy can be found <a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. They also have a new series from me starting September 2013. Recent New books and Re-releases: <table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="top" width="33%"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJadzUyxu5iRC6YpgLJ_xyq6FB4VHIrNAfXcPQx1vDAWCRSZaqGmoslyD1_btZYJzus71rMTvztCj5rs1SJ9eeJKFMVZNKa3xwagnWMUkZKtJ3k4CDZYqVI6i6-Qzhqk993IvtCTWFco/s1600/SpiritBear400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJadzUyxu5iRC6YpgLJ_xyq6FB4VHIrNAfXcPQx1vDAWCRSZaqGmoslyD1_btZYJzus71rMTvztCj5rs1SJ9eeJKFMVZNKa3xwagnWMUkZKtJ3k4CDZYqVI6i6-Qzhqk993IvtCTWFco/s200/SpiritBear400x600.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>NEW</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="34%"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHQqZoCHxefP6Q7rN7GHFCveyS3icWmhUoL2EwD1KR7JZgePHFsxuR3RlW3b-VP3m3fNB3mf_RMJ6qf9BZWeaFlR8v8D1DphID4-G9AaInUSYNXTje_ejt1uXLdrwIPNYEH7kzPcRGMM/s1600/TheFiremanAndTheCop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHQqZoCHxefP6Q7rN7GHFCveyS3icWmhUoL2EwD1KR7JZgePHFsxuR3RlW3b-VP3m3fNB3mf_RMJ6qf9BZWeaFlR8v8D1DphID4-G9AaInUSYNXTje_ejt1uXLdrwIPNYEH7kzPcRGMM/s200/TheFiremanAndTheCop.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>NEW</td><td align="center" valign="top" width="33%"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrRqdVrX5DXSiN1YiWqSabBO14DqzkwHohlIQf29DAsGmzwhL0AxNG_-mXeWs0IQBt_60wMOEIx7cdI-4nikYoCaoLm_f_A5mo1x-SFgzUWIkyUxhSNc-UFBiWuhpqo-gwwej-GaByG0/s1600/valentine2525_4x6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrRqdVrX5DXSiN1YiWqSabBO14DqzkwHohlIQf29DAsGmzwhL0AxNG_-mXeWs0IQBt_60wMOEIx7cdI-4nikYoCaoLm_f_A5mo1x-SFgzUWIkyUxhSNc-UFBiWuhpqo-gwwej-GaByG0/s200/valentine2525_4x6.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>NEW</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="top">Spirit Bear</td><td align="center" valign="top">The Fireman and the Cop  Ellery Mountain book #1</td><td align="center" valign="top">Valentine 2525 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Valentine-2525-ebook/dp/B00BG0E96Y" target="_blank"></a></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><a href="http://lovelanebooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Love Lane Books</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Bear-ebook/dp/B00BFXEQII/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-spiritbear-1060298-145.html" target="_blank">All Romance</a> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/rjscott" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></td><td align="center" valign="top"><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=272" target="_blank">Total E-Bound</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Fireman-Ellery-Mountain-ebook/dp/B00BEJ16GI/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thefiremanandthecop-1057379-145.html">All Romance</a></td><td align="center" valign="top"><a href="http://lovelanebooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Love Lane Books</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Valentine-2525-ebook/dp/B00BG0E96Y" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-valentine2525-1061651-143.html">All Romance</a></td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep3f2lbkzCNr8LHfxkkbXorl26lhxCvmjHHvXb8uGJr08rkfAGYjpKDz1QnPX_we5U4eNsX3orouPWFK-atEo4SXP9iW3SYvAud5BSIjuvJV4X2H7opbyFWx1QpIkftIAVqbIToYM1DY/s1600/THEVAMPIRECONTRACT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjep3f2lbkzCNr8LHfxkkbXorl26lhxCvmjHHvXb8uGJr08rkfAGYjpKDz1QnPX_we5U4eNsX3orouPWFK-atEo4SXP9iW3SYvAud5BSIjuvJV4X2H7opbyFWx1QpIkftIAVqbIToYM1DY/s200/THEVAMPIRECONTRACT.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">NEW</div></td><td align="center" valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUqTMmUnWo8wjQmlobN1cRT2VEBX5NWzZYgnZldmD7EhkXZdVT9MCBxT3wDKTnISgVdzc9HyBfgtluxSzrju7EzraJDWz4Hm1O2yTfW7UdlhhQwV14P1pATSsyqg1QruE1LXWT_r9sJo/s1600/thecaseofthecupidcurse_800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUqTMmUnWo8wjQmlobN1cRT2VEBX5NWzZYgnZldmD7EhkXZdVT9MCBxT3wDKTnISgVdzc9HyBfgtluxSzrju7EzraJDWz4Hm1O2yTfW7UdlhhQwV14P1pATSsyqg1QruE1LXWT_r9sJo/s200/thecaseofthecupidcurse_800.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>NEW</td><td align="center" valign="top"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dytFQmyfUwSOlZNF4C7VVaKS3kd8bSoMUKesnntv1cGAiTsCbinXArS70mQFFicl3UX_uYUcaZpleCMU-u1RHrSs60vU-NGgbG4fN8hWA9M0nRpi7fuwk7qt1zpSoE-g0zZ8fhNAoDY/s1600/The+Heart+Of+Texas+400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dytFQmyfUwSOlZNF4C7VVaKS3kd8bSoMUKesnntv1cGAiTsCbinXArS70mQFFicl3UX_uYUcaZpleCMU-u1RHrSs60vU-NGgbG4fN8hWA9M0nRpi7fuwk7qt1zpSoE-g0zZ8fhNAoDY/s200/The+Heart+Of+Texas+400x600.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>RE-RELEASE</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="top">The Vampire Contract <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Contract-Supernatural-Bounty-ebook/dp/B00BD8ZTI6/" target="_blank"></a></td><td align="center" valign="top">The Case Of The Cupid Curse written with Amber Kell </td><td align="center" valign="top">The Heart Of Texas</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/the-vampire-contract-2/" target="_blank">eXtasy</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Contract-Supernatural-Bounty-ebook/dp/B00BD8ZTI6/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></td><td align="center" valign="top"><a href="http://www.total-e-bound.com/authordetail.asp?A_ID=272" target="_blank">Total E-Bound</a> (Pre-order) Available to read 15 February)</td><td align="center" valign="top"><a href="http://lovelanebooks.co.uk/" target="_blank">Love Lane Books</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Heart-Of-Texas-ebook/dp/B00B891PAQ/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theheartoftexas-1050373-145.html" target="_blank">All Romance</a> <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/rjscott" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

News, Links and Texas 4 & Sanctuary 7 news

Hello It's been a busy February so far for me. After everything that happened in October and November with Silver I have got my head dow...

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New Cover Art

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxOvOYc57GUC-YuPRJGYsA1MZ2C3Dvo9uTrLpx6CQLS7acBIOrsVxui2_aqQkiBJTdWQ_hnZxVwGPREcyWCoBRa1mKr6f5rYDmt5Q5xzYsGyMT7p8I9s3WOU6BR5UGLW9hqQ4sfdXuJg/s1600/TheGuiltyWerewolf300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxOvOYc57GUC-YuPRJGYsA1MZ2C3Dvo9uTrLpx6CQLS7acBIOrsVxui2_aqQkiBJTdWQ_hnZxVwGPREcyWCoBRa1mKr6f5rYDmt5Q5xzYsGyMT7p8I9s3WOU6BR5UGLW9hqQ4sfdXuJg/s400/TheGuiltyWerewolf300.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>The Guilty Werewolf Supernatural Bounty Hunters, book 2 Blurb Declan Finlay is the best Retriever that Glitnir has. Well, he is now that Connor Strand has gone rogue. He is sent to find Connor - the guilty werewolf. But he doubts that his best friend could ever be guilty and he resolves to track him down and find out why he ran with the renegade vampire. When the Fae Congress, reporting to Glitnir, demand that he not go alone he is forced to accept the Succubus, Malachy Tiernan, an assassin, as his companion on the journey. If Declan doesn't kill Connor, then Malachy will. Declan needs to get rid of Malachy before they get anywhere near Connor but when the Succubus decides that Declan is not fit to do his job there is the beginning of a war. Can the werewolf win? Or will the assassin stop him in his tracks? <div style="text-align: center;">oOo</div> Coming 1 March from eXtasy :: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17310313-the-guilty-werewolf" target="_blank">Add to Goodreads</a> <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/only-guilty-run-wip.html" target="_blank">Book 1 - The Vampire Secret </a>

New Cover Art

The Guilty Werewolf Supernatural Bounty Hunters, book 2 Blurb Declan Finlay is the best Retriever that Glitnir has. Well, he is now that Con...

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Sue Brown - Friday interview

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEZ-27q7I5HgOV-jLoSbcypFUi70JMIND2m91kk0DMgeEzadpoRdz9UFrARd3LKAKw3VN4UzYd4suKMXj5ITes2AzqtqVnIymgyPIfG2coA0PSsWXP22eR2LM-kTETSD6mopBhZzU5kQ/s1600/Hairy+Harry+400x600+(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEZ-27q7I5HgOV-jLoSbcypFUi70JMIND2m91kk0DMgeEzadpoRdz9UFrARd3LKAKw3VN4UzYd4suKMXj5ITes2AzqtqVnIymgyPIfG2coA0PSsWXP22eR2LM-kTETSD6mopBhZzU5kQ/s400/Hairy+Harry+400x600+(1).jpg" width="266" /></a> Interview <div>Welcome to my friend and awesome author Sue Brown... she answers a few questions and gives us an insight into her drinking habit... tea that is...</div><div> </div>Tetley's or PG Tips?  <div> </div><div>Neither. I am an Earl Grey girl. I used to drink builder's tea, really really strong, because there was always a pot of tea on the table. Then I took black tea during a diet. God, it was foul, really foul, but by the end of three weeks I never went back to milk in my tea. I hate milk and drink black coffee as well so I suppose it is logical. I switched to Earl Grey about fifteen years ago, and now 'normal' tea is too strong. I'm like Captain Jean Luc Picard. "Earl Grey, black." I've drunk black tea for twenty five years. Do you think my family can remember this fact? How do you keep your stories "organized"? I mean, remembering side characters, visuals, background stories, connections... <a name="more"></a>Um... I wish I did. I want to but I am soooooo disorganised. Trying to remember crucial information like eye colour *cough* Simon in Morning Report *cough* is impossible. I want to be that organised person but I am not. What is the best and the worst thing about being an author who writes in the m/m genre? Do you want the honest answer or the diplomatic one? I am part of an amazing genre which is growing in acceptance and quality all the time. I can write any sub-category I want and find readers. There are some truly wonderful writers that I adore, and I'm learning all the time. Also, the readers... lads, lasses, all open and accepting. What can I say? The worst... the single thing that drives me insane... that my worth as a writer is reduced by the fact I don't have a dick. Seriously? *mutters rude words* Thank you Sue... I love the answer to the third question! * * * * * Buy Links <div>All Romance Ebooks - <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hairyharry039scarseat-1045108-145.html">https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hairyharry039scarseat-1045108-145.html</a> Amazon - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hairy-Harrys-Car-Seat-ebook/dp/B00B2KTSUA/ref=zg_bs_172503011_20">http://www.amazon.com/Hairy-Harrys-Car-Seat-ebook/dp/B00B2KTSUA/ref=zg_bs_172503011_20</a> Smashwords - <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/276370">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/276370</a> Peter Mitchell walked away with from his marriage with two things: a suitcase and Hairy Harry, the family pet. When Harry becomes ill, Peter is faced with one of the hardest decisions he's ever had to make... saying goodbye to his best friend.</div><div>Evan Wells is the locum vet who attends to Harry and Peter is surprised at how quickly they become friends. Peter finds himself looking forward to Evan's phone calls and the meals they share together. He knows Evan is gay but it doesn't bother him until Evan confesses his attraction to him. Peter has to admit to himself that he's not as adverse to the possibility as he thought he would be, and that does bother him. Excerpt (PG) Peter sat on the carpet next to Harry’s bed. The huge dog was curled up, and barely stirred when Peter stroked his head. “Hey, Harry boy,” Peter murmured, “how are you feeling?” The dog leaned into the caress, but he didn’t move or lick his hand like he normally did. Harry was about fourteen. He’d been a rescue dog and no one was quite sure of his exact age or his ancestry. Harry was an Irish Wolfhound/Terrier mix, all wiry hair and short legs. Peter didn’t know what made up the mix, but it had given Harry a long life. Now Harry was old, and in the last week, he’d spent more time sleeping in his bed than anywhere else, not eating his dinner, uninterested in the world around him. Peter had tried to tempt him with dog food that had cost more than his food bill for the week, but Harry ignored the bowl. He’d managed to wag his tail for Peter, even that was getting weaker as the days went on. “Not so good, huh?” Peter sat as close as he could and rested Harry’s head on his lap. The dog didn’t protest, and Peter was thankful he didn’t seem to be in pain. He leant back against the wall as he stroked him. Harry closed his eyes and went back to sleep. “I’ve made us an appointment at the V-E-T.” Peter whispered as he spelt out the three letter word. In Harry’s eyes, the worst place in the world to be. At his very first visit, the vet had taken away his doghood, and from then on, Harry had hated the vet, the waiting room and even the surgery car park. Over the fifteen years Peter had owned his dog, he’d been thankful that their visits had been limited to the annual vaccinations because, despite his pleadings to Harry, every visit had left Harry muzzled but triumphant, the vet shaken, and Peter with long scratches. The vet was a saint in Peter’s eyes and the devil incarnate in Harry’s. Peter had delayed taking Harry to the vets because he hadn’t wanted to stress him, but now it was past time, Harry was deteriorating day by day. He’d begged for a half-day from work to take him to the vets. His boss had agreed reluctantly on the understanding he made up the hours later in the week. Peter pressed a kiss to the top of Harry’s head. “I’m going to get my shoes on.” He laid the dog back in his bed and got to his feet, stretching out stiff muscles. Harry stayed where he was, his eyes closed, as Peter got ready to go out. Even the rattle of the lead failed to interest him. Then it came to the actual journey. Harry was a big old dog, and Peter had to carry him down the stairs and get him into the car. Peter sniffled, trying to hold back the tears as he placed Harry on the back seat of the car. He’d always sat in the front seat if Peter was on his own, sitting bolt upright so he could see out of the window but he needed to lie down and he didn’t fit in the front seat. Harry loved travelling in the car, finding the world endlessly fascinating. As Peter drove Harry would give his opinion on what he saw, from a growl at cats to a high whine at other dogs. Harry had an opinion on everything. If Peter’s kids were in the car he would be booted to the back seat, grumbling his disapproval, and would flop over whoever sat next to him to make his point. His hair stuck to every seat, covering anyone who shared Peter’s car, but the front was the worst. The kids called the passenger seat Hairy Harry’s seat, and laughed as unwitting passengers got covered in dog hair.</div></div>

Sue Brown - Friday interview

Interview Welcome to my friend and awesome author Sue Brown... she answers a few questions and gives us an insight into her drinking habit.....

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Valentine 2525

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrRqdVrX5DXSiN1YiWqSabBO14DqzkwHohlIQf29DAsGmzwhL0AxNG_-mXeWs0IQBt_60wMOEIx7cdI-4nikYoCaoLm_f_A5mo1x-SFgzUWIkyUxhSNc-UFBiWuhpqo-gwwej-GaByG0/s1600/valentine2525_4x6.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrRqdVrX5DXSiN1YiWqSabBO14DqzkwHohlIQf29DAsGmzwhL0AxNG_-mXeWs0IQBt_60wMOEIx7cdI-4nikYoCaoLm_f_A5mo1x-SFgzUWIkyUxhSNc-UFBiWuhpqo-gwwej-GaByG0/s400/valentine2525_4x6.jpg" /></a> The Book In the year 2525, Samekh Taw designation #65572—aka “Sam”—is a Companion. A cloned human—a lab creation made specifically to order to serve any and all of the needs of Max Absolom III. <div><div> </div><div>Max is the one man who never wanted a Companion in the first place, only agreeing to the whole uncomfortable situation because his social standing demanded it. When it becomes clear that Sam is flawed and he seeks to end his existence before he is erased, it is up to Max to convince Sam to hold his secrets close and that love isn’t just for one day. Originally a story in the anthology Never Say Never, published 14 Februay 2011 this is re-edited and amended.... if you already bought the antho then please send me a screen print of your receipt and I will send you the file as soon as I am back on the computer... <div> </div><div>A short story of 9,100 words</div></div><div> </div><div> Buy Links - eBook</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.lovelanebooks.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=30" target="_blank">Love Lane Books</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BG0E96Y/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00BG0E96Y&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-20" target="_blank">Amazon (US)</a> | <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BG0E96Y/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00BG0E96Y&linkCode=as2&tag=rjsc-21" target="_blank">Amazon (UK)</a> | <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-valentine2525-1061651-145.html" target="_blank">All Romance</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/valentine-2525-rj-scott/1114675745?ean=2940044322523" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> | <a href="http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/Books/valentine-2525" target="_blank">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/286324" target="_blank">Smashwords</a></div><div> </div><div>Excerpt “There is no point in going back and looking at all this old information, Max.” Maximillian Absolom the Third, of the Berris System Absoloms, raised his gaze from the papers that were crumbled and torn, sitting in the archive fluid for regeneration. “There is always a point in a record of history, Senator.” “For goodness sake, will you just call me Dad?” <a name="more"></a>Max wrinkled his nose and glanced around his laboratory absently, blinking at the false daylight that poured in from the floor-to-ceiling holograms, wondering when Aston, the station computer, had decided to switch from night to day. “It’s morning?” Max was a space rat. He’d been born aboard a freighter on its way from Berris Major to New Earth. His daily life was dictated by the onboard computer’s idea of time. To Max, it seemed there was no rhyme or reason behind the ship computer’s version of time. It certainly didn’t seem to follow a typical day on Berris Major. “It wasn’t morning when I started work,” he muttered, raking his fingers through the chestnut hair that curled about his ears and forehead, long enough to settle on the collar of his shirt. Senator Maximillian Absolom the Second sighed and shook his head. “Son, it’s been morning, and now it has passed to afternoon.” “I was in the middle of a translation,” Max said, defending his lack of time awareness, and then frowned. Why has Dad come to the lab again? Oh yes. Telling me there’s no point in history, but that’s not why he’s really here. “We learn from history,” Max finally blurted out, trying to pull the conversation back to his passion and away from whatever the Senator really wanted. All his dad did was wave away the comment. It was no more than Max expected. The Senator was firmly entrenched with both feet in the present and looking to the future. He wasn’t exactly dismissive about Max and his research; after all, he relied on what history had taught him to make reasoned decisions for the future. No, the Senator had a history that he knew, and he didn’t want to hear what he classified as “the fairy tales of a prewar world”. “You're twenty-five now and it's getting close to the Day of Choosing, son. Your mother says I need to address an issue with you.” Max winced inwardly. He knew exactly what issue his dad was talking about: the thorny matter of his Companion—or rather, the lack of one. Many a heated debate had been had on the subject. To Max’s mind Companions existed solely for the purpose of heterosexual breeding. Since he wasn’t interested in either females or breeding, there didn’t seem a point in breaking in an escort. He braced himself for another reasoned discussion, his defense firmly established in his mind. Instead of talking, his father, with a concerned look on his face, simply handed him a chip labeled with the Companion Program insignia. “I was hoping to avoid the Day of Choosing,” he offered carefully, but his father just shook his head. “Your mother worries about you being on your own. Just choose one. You can always exchange it for another if you don’t like the first one.” “I don’t want—” “I got you dispensation for a male.” Silence. Max blinked and stared at his dad. Dispensations for human same-gender matching were rarer than the missing moons that used to circle Berris Minor. Procreation would always be the dominant theme in all Companion matching. He reached for the card, flicking it over in his palm as the words hovered above it, suspended in midair. Companion Choice from Absolom Labs. He should have known. “I didn’t know our Labs had invested in the Companion Program.” His suspicious nature immediately questioned the sudden presence of Absolom Labs’ hand in that particular pie. “We didn’t. We do now. Hence the dispensation.” Max stared down at it for a short while, then looked up to tell his father that he really didn’t need a Companion. To his consternation, the Senator had left, and once again, Max sat alone in his section of the laboratory complex. He flicked at one side of the card, and a soft modulated voice enquired after his day. He ignored the voice and instead spoke his key code, then waited until his saved search was retrieved. He had visited the Companion Lab once before, a visit his mom and dad had guilted him into, and he had entered his dreams onto the tiny chip that would remember it for all time. A soft, decidedly feminine voice repeated back his preselected requests. “Male. Twenty-seven New Earth years of age. Hair black, eyes blue. Characteristics: compassion and an interest in prewar Origin Earth history. Sexual orientation: homosexual (status male).” The voice stopped. A warning—a blue holographic triangle—flashed before him, and the voice issued an addendum. “I regret to inform that chosen module, prewar Earth history, is not available at this time. As alternatives, Absolom Labs is pleased to offer you the Advanced Plutonic Physics Module or the Medical Assistance Module.” The voice paused, clearly waiting for a response, and Max considered the two options available to him. Plutonic freaking physics or medical assistance? Who the hell wanted either of those? He required someone who would sit and talk Earth history with him, not bore him to death or bandage a paper cut. “Other alternatives?” he questioned, listening as one by one the options scrolled by in the same calm voice. “Wait, that last one, I’ll take that. Sentient Science.” It really was the only arm of science that he was remotely interested in, the part of early-Earth science that had led to the genetics war in 2213. “Your choice has been logged. Please ensure you forward the authorization code to arrange collection of your companion.” And that was that. The single string of characters and a few numbers was the stamp of his Companion. Samekh Taw #65572. </div></div>

Valentine 2525

The Book In the year 2525, Samekh Taw designation #65572—aka “Sam”—is a Companion. A cloned human—a lab creation made specifically to order ...

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Don’t stomp on my traditions!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNV3lMthGsqpfw0QexIeF6UHUuc637c9KXJiBoYjkiSsz-YaNqNC5Ajfm1hGzGwcjSSPyJIsjTsCfumrQrvkwMvyqclxiKcrQzL99qmT14cY19nRDA3yJkHOjMCqddK1AoGNNfe5nO04/s1600/16129551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNV3lMthGsqpfw0QexIeF6UHUuc637c9KXJiBoYjkiSsz-YaNqNC5Ajfm1hGzGwcjSSPyJIsjTsCfumrQrvkwMvyqclxiKcrQzL99qmT14cY19nRDA3yJkHOjMCqddK1AoGNNfe5nO04/s400/16129551.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>I was due to provide R J with a blog post on love, an appropriate emotion for the month in question. Valentine’s Day is not a holiday I embrace with any enthusiasm, too commercial for my tastes, but since True Love is definitely a factor in my latest novel, Lovers Entwined, I figured I would be able to scrape a post together. Except… I’ve driven past an advert for Pancake Day outside my local supermarket every day this week. And each time I’ve got a little more irate. “Why?” I hear you cry. What could be more innocuous than a batter made of eggs, milk and flour? The stack of pancakes in question are fat and fluffy, artfully arranged with plump, purple blueberries. Nothing wrong with that, they look very tasty. If you want American breakfast pancakes. However, they are NOT the sort of pancakes traditionally eaten in England on Shrove Tuesday. Those pancakes should be thin, flat, even lacy creations, running with lemon and sugar. They should be cooked in a frying pan, not on a griddle. They need no raising agent. You should be able to TOSS them! Calm down, dear. It’s only a pancake. No, it’s more than that, it’s a part of my history. Pancakes have been made in this traditional way on Shrove Tuesday for a thousand years or more. How hard can it be for a huge chain of supermarkets to take a photograph of the type of pancakes that reflect the heritage of the country I live in, and they are trading in? Time to provide some background information to my tirade. Shrove Tuesday, also known as Pancake Day, is the day before Lent starts. It's a day of penitence, to clean the soul, and a day of celebration as the last chance to feast before Lent begins. Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the ritual of shriving that Christians used to undergo in the past. In shriving, a person confesses their sins and receives absolution for them. This tradition is over a thousand years old. Lent is a time of abstinence, so Shrove Tuesday is the last chance to indulge yourself, and to use up the foods that aren't allowed in Lent. Historically this meant meat and fish, fats, eggs, and milky foods. So that no food was wasted, families would have a feast on the shriving Tuesday, and eat all the foods that wouldn't last the forty days of Lent without going off. Pancakes became associated with Shrove Tuesday as they were a dish that could use up all the eggs, fats and milk in the house with just the addition of flour. Another tradition of the day are Pancake races. The origin of the pancake race is rumoured to date back to 1445. History would have it that a woman had lost track of the time on Shrove Tuesday, and was busy cooking pancakes in her kitchen. When she heard the church bell ringing to call the faithful to church for confession, she raced out of her house and ran all the way to church. Still holding her frying pan and wearing her apron! <a name="more"></a> <div>One of the most famous pancake races is held at Olney in Buckinghamshire. Contestants not only have to run whilst tossing their pancake but they must be wearing an apron and a scarf. The race is followed by a church service. There are people who stick religiously to the tradition, only eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. These are the same people that only eat sprouts with their Turkey dinner ‘because it’s Christmas’. Yeah, because the baby Jesus stuffed himself with Brussels. Nothing to eat in that stable but a small, green , barely edible vegetable! Anyhow, I digress. In our house even an overabundance of eggs is sufficient celebratory excuse to scrap dinner plans and overindulge on dairy and carbs drowned in lemon and dredged with sugar. I’ve been known to consume 12 in one sitting. And now I’m stuck, how can I tie this blog post in to the book I’m planning on bombarding you with information on now. Well, I can’t, not really. Although, food is something I touch on briefly in Lovers Entwined. The tradition of Gingerbread at Christmas or Pie at Thanksgiving. How food can offer comfort or a connection. Enough of trying to link what amounted to a rant to my latest publication, instead I’ll just give you an excerpt. EXCERPT The insistent buzz of his intercom broke him from his reverie. Closing his folder, he depressed the button connecting him to his middle-aged assistant. “Barbara.” “Your ten o’clock is here, Mr. Matthews.” “Give me two minutes and then send him in. Thanks.” Releasing the button, Ewan pushed his ergonomic computer chair away from the solid oak desk and stood up. He wheeled it over to a dark-stained wooden door in the corner, which he opened to reveal a larger, more imposing chair in black leather. “It’s all about the perception,” he muttered to himself as he swapped the chairs and wheeled the leather recliner back to the desk. People expected a certain air of the old and antiquated when they researched their past and that was what Ewan’s office was designed to provide. From the oak paneling in reception, the row upon row of leather-bound books which were never opened—most of his research was done online and the books he did use were old and treasured and safely stored at home—to the solid antique—secondhand—furniture in dark woods, the company screamed “trust me with your past”. If Ewan could have aged himself to look older than his twenty-eight years, he would have, but despite the glasses and the somber suit, with vest, Ewan could do nothing to disguise the quiff at his forehead. It pinged back into place however he cut his hair, making him look similar to a dark-haired Tintin and giving him a look of perpetual youth. The knock on the door came at the same time as his computer blipped a notification that a search had yielded results. “Come in,” he called out, his attention distracted by the list of available marriage certificates that met his criteria, and without looking up, he waved in the direction of the comfortable high-backed chair on the other side of his desk. “Take a seat, Mr. Capell.” With several strokes across the keyboard, Ewan narrowed the search, already speaking as he depressed the enter key. “Sorry, I had a result on the search for your sister’s…” His gaze finally fell on the subject of his latest project, and he looked nothing like the provided photograph. A casual three-button polo shirt in turquoise-blue covered broad shoulders and was tucked into navy slacks. Light ginger hair, almost a golden copper in color, flopped in a mess across his forehead, just long enough to irritate piercing blue eyes. Tanned skin flashed in his vision as Mr. Capell raised a hand to push the hair from his face. Ewan was struck by a blinding sense of recognition, and even though he was certain he had never seen this man before, it was strong enough to suck all the air from his lungs. He gasped in a ragged breath and couldn’t stop his gaze from roaming the length of his new client. Berating himself for his unprofessional attitude, however unintentional it had been, Ewan attempted to collect his scattered composure and get the appointment back on track. What had he been saying? Oh yes, work. “Um, yes, I just got a hit on your sister’s marriage certificate.” “I get that reaction a lot,” Trey Capell said, drawing attention back to Ewan’s faux pas in the most inappropriate way. He dropped into the chair Ewan had indicated, his limbs splayed languidly, thighs spread almost as if in invitation. “I—” Ewan was struggling to regain his composure, partly because he almost choked on his tongue at the blatant display from his new client, but mainly due to the perplexingly familiar blue eyes that watched him from the body of a stranger. Talking over Ewan’s attempt to come up with a reasonable excuse for his unethical behavior, Trey Capell continued to extol his virtues. “Admittedly it’s normally from girls these days. Guys just assume—” “That you’re a prat,” Ewan said, muttering angrily under his breath. “Eh.” Trey Capell actually did a double take before obviously deciding he’d misheard. “Guys just assume I’m straight since I’m with Paige. You being gay isn’t a problem. I’ve been known to surf that side of the beach on occasions myself.” “I was going to apologize,” Ewan said, interrupting Trey Capell before he had the chance to insult Ewan further. The inane chatter coupled with his embarrassment at being caught ogling his client already had Ewan fighting the temptation to lean across the desk and slap that condescending pretty face. He straightened his pen on his blotter and attempted to regain some semblance of control. His “Oxford” English accent became more pronounced, adding an aloof edge to his voice in the process. “I simply had the most overwhelming feeling of déjà vu when you walked into the office. But since you have unnecessarily brought my sexuality into question, let me assure you that you are perfectly safe with me. I certainly wouldn’t associate with such a self-centered idiot, even if you were the last man on Earth.” Okay, so much for regaining control. That wasn’t quite where he’d intended to go when he’d started speaking. What the hell was the matter with him today? “I— What?” Wide-eyed, Trey blustered, huffing out a breath and pushing himself up straighter in the chair. “You can’t talk to me like that. I’m your client. Don’t forget who is paying your wages.” The retainer check was still in among the documents in front of him. Dragging the check across the blotter on his desk, Ewan picked it up and studied it. “Not you, it appears,” he said, keeping a straight face. “The initial consultation has been paid for by a Ms. P. Black.” Gripping the check between the thumb and forefinger of both hands, Ewan held it out over the desk between them. He’d already made an awful impression on this client, and quite frankly, he didn’t care, the man was insufferable. “I don’t need your business. I have clients lining up around the block. Yes, I’m gay. I’ll be asking you lots of question to which I will expect direct and informative answers. I don’t have the time to deal with an arsehole. If any of these points are going to be a problem for you, then I can tear this check up now and we can both get on with the rest of our lives. Without ever meeting again.” And if those last words coincided with Ewan’s stomach clenching in a painful cramp, well, he put it down to the two cups of coffee he’d had since breakfast. “No.” Trey Capell looked almost panicked at this proposition. “That’s fine. I don’t have a problem with any of that. Could we start again?” He stood and extended a hand. “Trey Capell. Nice to meet you.” Ewan pushed himself to his feet and took the offered hand. It was firm and strong, and awareness prickled at his palm. “Ewan Matthews,” he said with a brief nod of acknowledgement. He resolutely ignored the sensation of relief that swept over him as the tight band relaxed its grip on his stomach. <div style="text-align: center;">oOo</div><div> Lovers Entwined is available to buy from <a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/lovers-entwined.html">Ellora’s Cave</a>,  <a href="https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loversentwined-1018053-173.html">ARe</a> and other sellers. Want to see what others are saying about this story? Check out <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16129551-lovers-entwined">my page</a> on Goodreads.</div></div>

Don’t stomp on my traditions!

I was due to provide R J with a blog post on love, an appropriate emotion for the month in question. Valentine’s Day is not a holiday I embr...

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MM Good Book Reviews

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJadzUyxu5iRC6YpgLJ_xyq6FB4VHIrNAfXcPQx1vDAWCRSZaqGmoslyD1_btZYJzus71rMTvztCj5rs1SJ9eeJKFMVZNKa3xwagnWMUkZKtJ3k4CDZYqVI6i6-Qzhqk993IvtCTWFco/s1600/SpiritBear400x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJadzUyxu5iRC6YpgLJ_xyq6FB4VHIrNAfXcPQx1vDAWCRSZaqGmoslyD1_btZYJzus71rMTvztCj5rs1SJ9eeJKFMVZNKa3xwagnWMUkZKtJ3k4CDZYqVI6i6-Qzhqk993IvtCTWFco/s400/SpiritBear400x600.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/spirit-bear-by-r-j-scott/">Spirit Bear</a> 4/5 - The characters in this story are incredibly written. Both Aiden and Mitchell are well-developed, bringing this story to life. We join them on a journey that takes us into the heart of a bear sanctuary with beautiful details and a burgeoning love. There is much to say about this story, but no way to really explain the incredible relationship that evolves between Mitchell and Aiden, or the emotional pressure that still plagues Aiden, or the ghosts that haunt him. It’s a story that you have to read for yourself. I recommend that everyone who loves a great story, brilliant characters, emotional pressure, low self-esteem, finding the man who can bring out the best in you and an ending that makes you smile, read this story and enjoy. <a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/texas-heat-by-r-j-scott/">Texas Heat by R. J. Scott</a> 4/5 - I will recommend this to those who love sexy cowboys, hunky businessmen, horny photographers, cute kids, supportive family and a happy ending. <a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/love-is-in-the-title-by-rj-scott/">Love is in the title by RJ Scott</a> - 4.5/5 - I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves jock/nerd love stories or just want to read a happy-go-lucky work of art. Trust me, you won’t regret it! <a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/full-circle-by-rj-scott/">Full Circle</a> - 4/5 - So I highly recommend this if you like intrigue, a touch of action, adrenalin rushes, some really hot sex, guns, computers and a happy ending. <a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/face-value-by-rj-scott/">Face Value</a> 4/5 - A great addition to the Sanctuary series so I recommend this to those who love mystery, suspense, a bit of action, some danger, a budding attraction/relationship and two stubborn men who strike sparks off each other. <a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/decision-we-make-by-r-j-scott/"></a> <a name="more"></a><a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/decision-we-make-by-r-j-scott/">Decisions We Make</a> 5/5 - This book is not all flowers and kisses. Some really bad things happen that bears evidence to the fact that some folks are filled with bigotry and hate; folks who become the victims of a scorned young woman, bent on revenge. But, the “incident” did cause the boys secret out into the open. I really felt for Daniel. He would love to just love Jamie, but, he also worries that loving Jamie may bring rejection from the rest of the family. The ending is great and I hope we get to see Jamie and Daniel as they head off to UCLA. As a mom, I closed this book knowing most teenage romances don’t last, but hoping that this one does. Highly recommend. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdYzVL9Pw-e0C0FHCKuyawODfhw9gnL7zSCsWvsvGV9b5yx-pOM-puFstukXBHcx-_P_ZDmR2ooAjfKBgKT8wuUnhwsW2K18JvMaL1JLRUsJVYLHem_bIEeiZGoIBmU41tCNNsGtCYbc/s1600/The-Only-Easy-Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdYzVL9Pw-e0C0FHCKuyawODfhw9gnL7zSCsWvsvGV9b5yx-pOM-puFstukXBHcx-_P_ZDmR2ooAjfKBgKT8wuUnhwsW2K18JvMaL1JLRUsJVYLHem_bIEeiZGoIBmU41tCNNsGtCYbc/s400/The-Only-Easy-Day.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/the-only-easy-day-by-r-j-scott/">The Only Easy Day</a> 4/5 - This isn’t a traditional relationship… they are not going to buy a little house with a picket fence, Joseph is going to still be gone a lot but Dale will be his port in the storm, this is a beginning for them and I don’t know why but I think that they still have another story in them. So I will recommend this to those who love danger, explosive car chases, hot sex, total alpha men, bloody rescues and a happy (for these men) ending. <a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/guarding-morgan-by-r-j-scott/">Guarding Morgan</a> 4/5 - The relationship between these two is hot and sparks fly. The progression is fast and the feelings come quickly. They seem well matched, but it isn’t easy for them. What with worrying about the case and being stuck in a remote cabin for two weeks. The danger is very realistic and wasn’t over the top. The storyline was brilliant and the plot kept you reading. It was smoothly written and there isn’t too much going on that you get lost. The sex is hot and sensual and made me want more of it… well you know see more of it… look, you know what I mean. Stop being so dirty minded. <a href="http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2011/09/18/eoin-by-r-j-scott/">Eoin</a> 4/5 - I found this book brilliant. The way that Eoin takes responsibility because he doesn’t want any danger coming to his friends even though he hasn’t seen them in years is incredibly sweet. Trystyn is an extremely strong character who makes me wish this book was longer so we could get to know him better. There is a lot more action in this book as it wraps up everything so there are no loose ends and it is done brilliantly and the writing is smooth.

MM Good Book Reviews

Spirit Bear 4/5 - The characters in this story are incredibly written. Both Aiden and Mitchell are well-developed, bringing this story to ...

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The Only Easy Day - New Cover Art

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdYzVL9Pw-e0C0FHCKuyawODfhw9gnL7zSCsWvsvGV9b5yx-pOM-puFstukXBHcx-_P_ZDmR2ooAjfKBgKT8wuUnhwsW2K18JvMaL1JLRUsJVYLHem_bIEeiZGoIBmU41tCNNsGtCYbc/s1600/The-Only-Easy-Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdYzVL9Pw-e0C0FHCKuyawODfhw9gnL7zSCsWvsvGV9b5yx-pOM-puFstukXBHcx-_P_ZDmR2ooAjfKBgKT8wuUnhwsW2K18JvMaL1JLRUsJVYLHem_bIEeiZGoIBmU41tCNNsGtCYbc/s400/The-Only-Easy-Day.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>One dead girl, one scared witness, and two men trained as Navy SEALS. Whether searching for justice or revenge, the final showdown between them is the same—explosive. Long Blurb: Dale MacIntyre, former Navy SEAL, works for Sanctuary. He’s the acting handler for a member of the Bullen family’s inner circle. He’s close to obtaining the evidence he needs to prove Elisabeth Costain's death was ordered by them… until someone gets in his way. Joseph Kinnon, active Navy SEAL, is back on U.S. soil for the first time in months, and he’s told the tragic news that his stepsister is dead, gunned down in an alley by an unknown assailant. He’s determined to find out who murdered her…until someone gets in his way. They both want the same thing but have different methods of accomplishing their goals. They both want the Bullen family brought to account, but one wants justice and the other wants revenge. What happens between them, however, has nothing to do with either. <a href="https://www.lovelanebooks.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=9&zenid=e2fcd373dc04f3221615050a40f77e16" target="_blank">Buy from RJ's Website</a> :: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Only-Easy-Sanctuary-ebook/dp/B00ADSELFE/" target="_blank">Amazon</a> Links to all Sanctuary books: <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/guarding-morgan.html">Guarding Morgan</a> (Sanctuary 1) <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/only-easy-day-excerpt.html">The Only Easy Day</a> (Sanctuary 2) <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/face-value.html">Face Value</a> (Sanctuary 3) <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/still-waters-sanctuary-4.html">Still Waters</a> (Sanctuary 4) <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/full-circle-sanctuary-5.html" target="_blank">Full Circle</a> (Sanctuary 5) <a href="http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-journal-of-sanctuary-one-sanctuary.html" target="_blank">The Journal Of Sanctuary One</a> (Sanctuary 6) EXCERPT - Chapters 1&2 <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7131988310809850503">Chapter 1</a> "Chief, locate for CAS." The shout was passed down the line, barely audible over the gunfire, and into Chief Petty Officer Joseph Kinnon's ear. The lieutenant was situated higher up the steep incline, pinned in that position. He was held down by the whine and thud of AK47 bullets that ripped and spat through the rocks of the mountain, but his message was loud and clear. They were trapped, and only close air support was going to solve this clusterfuck. <a name="more"></a>Joseph was by far the closest to the onslaught of Taliban forces and crawled on his belly to the viewpoint, only inches below an outcrop of rock and far too exposed for his liking. Gauging distance, he scrambled back to pass the intel. "Danger close, five hundred," he reported succinctly, and slid sideways as some random shot snagged the rock to his left and gouged a path in the blackness. Information passed upwards was fast, and the decision passed back just as quick. Despite the team locked down this close to the target, there wasn't another way out of this position. They had to call in close air support and chance getting decimated by friendly fire or killed by the large group of Taliban closing in. Joseph sent up a silent plea the pilot of the F-16 in this airspace was one hundred percent accurate. Bad timing had led a group of Taliban to the same path they traveled, and the small SEAL team was paying the price. No way back up the mountain, and no way forward, the journalist they were here to extract had pasted himself flat against the wall with horror across his face; they were stuck. One well-placed missile into the middle of the Taliban forces and it would be enough for the team of six and the journalist to make it the extraction point. The terminal controller exchanged brief glances with Joseph. Dexter was his best friend, and their relationship went way back before SEAL training, commonly called BUD/s. Joseph nodded. He knew exactly what was going through his friend's mind as he called in the ten-digit grid reference to command. Joseph lip read as Dexter added detail to the "danger close", forces-speak for telling the F-16 pilot there was the potential to kill the good guys too. Dexter ducked as the Taliban concentrated their fire on the cluster of rocks behind him. They couldn't know exactly where he was, but even random firing was sending bullets too close for comfort. Joseph rolled to his side and focused his fire on the flashes from the forces below them. He just hoped it was enough to give Dexter the space to complete the message on the UHF radio. Finally Dexter passed a message up and down the team, the LT nodded and indicated heads down. The missile would be there in three. Joseph didn't let up on his targeted shooting, and for a few minutes until "missile on target", he and the rest of the team would be ensuring focus was on them. <div>The reporter had been an easy extraction. Taken hostage by the Taliban, they'd been keeping him in a safe house in the mountains of Afghanistan. Intelligence had led the US to his location, and they had watched to establish a pattern for his captors. Pattern established, Joseph and his team were inserted three miles away, on the other side of a mountain ridge. It had been, in SEAL terms, an easy extraction, and the journalist had not only still been alive but was able to walk out fairly unhurt. Then the shit hit the fan. With nothing more than bad timing, suddenly the team was pinned down by the sheer number of freaking Taliban coming at them with the barrage of small arms fire. They were fucked. Dexter signaled a "one" to Joseph and the others. This was it. This was win or fail spectacularly; what a way to go out. Fuentes sat on the journalist, their faces to the wall, hunkered down in a natural ditch formed by a crack in the earth between rocks. Dexter rolled and sheltered amongst the boulders strewn on the pathway. The LT and the rest of the team kept up fire until, one by one, they too took cover. There was no sense in letting the Taliban get any idea things were going down by giving out a ceasefire, and finally, it was only Joseph firing into the darkness in a random pattern. He glanced at Dexter, who held up a fist and then a five. Joseph counted down, and at one, he took final cover, curled in on himself with his head tucked low, every part of him sheltered by Afghan rock. No noise indicated the targeting of a five-hundred-pound bomb, but when it hit the Taliban, it was deadly and quick. The pressure waves pressed Joseph's eardrums, and he involuntary closed his eyes. The air rent about them, and the sound of violent roaring thunder shook the earth. As it threw debris high into the air, the low-end noise of the pressure wave rolled over the SEAL team, but there was no time to sit and wait to see if the hit had found target. Joseph was first, closest to the insurgents, and weapon high, he slid down the crumbling mountainside. The missile had done its work, but Joseph didn't look for that. He wanted an all clear, and with only a few on target shots, he indicated back that the team could follow. There was still some small arms fire from the few remaining Taliban, but it was nothing the SEALs couldn't handle, dodging forces and jogging with the journalist at the center. Dexter called in final extraction, and when Joseph slumped into the CH-47 Chinook, he closed his eyes. It would be days before his ears were back to normal. The helicopter dipped then took a wide low path over the Afghanistan flatlands. "So," Dexter started on a shout that broke through his team's fractured hearing, "I'm thinking of asking Emily to marry me." And there it was. Normality after facing chaos and death. It was what SEALs did. They fought, they extracted, and they were the best. But, at the end of the day, they had survived and were alive. Listening as his best friend received advice from the team on how to propose, Joseph felt a twinge of something inside. The adrenaline inside him was trickling away and the reality of his life was replacing it in every single cell he had. An empty apartment and a month of sleep. The sleep sounded good, but the empty part? That felt like shit. * * * * The deck of the C-17 was freaking freezing, and not for the first time in eight hours of hell, Joseph wished he had two sleeping pads under him and not just one. Ramstein Air Base might be five hours in the past, but that meant at least another two or three until landing at Oceana Naval Air Station on the east coast. He was supposed to still be sleeping—that was the only way this enforced downtime worked for him. The Ambien had apparently long since lost its ability to send him back to sleep, and he was now way past wide awake. Everyone wanted to go home, but it was at moments like this, he wished for some magic way to blink and suddenly be in his own bed. The imposed cramped space was necessary if he wanted to get home, but he was a man of action, and all the clichés applied to him in spades. He wasn't the man who sat still; he was the one who paced. He never walked; he always ran. Sucking it up until they landed was his only option. Still, he was tired enough to allow a small amount of self-indulgent misery at the cold and the smell and the aches that filtered through his determination to not complain. His hip ached from lying on his right side as they crossed the ocean away from Basram to Germany and, with only a few hours break, onto the continental US. He was a SEAL, and his body had been through one hell of a lot, certainly more than the discomforts of sleeping in a C-17 cargo plane. The thought of what he normally put his body through and how much pain he could handle never failed to amuse him when all he could think of now was how freaking sore he felt all over. Thank goodness for small mercies that the vibration of the plane had lessened as soon as they hit cruising altitude. He hated the way the throbbing of the huge engines coursed through his body and rattled his bones. Twenty-six years old and his body felt like he was forty. Cursing his inability to sleep, he half rolled to take the pressure off his hip and stopped only when he felt one of his team behind him. He couldn't even recall who had grabbed the space there, but by the snoring, he assumed it was Dexter. His best friend was always watching his six and had done until they passed out the same week in BUD/s. Gritting his teeth, and with the comfort of his best friend's breathing so obvious behind him, Joseph relaxed each muscle, resolutely ignoring the belt on his multi-cams digging into skin. He finally found the place inside him that allowed him to sleep perched on rocks or in caves with aerial assaults streaking the sky. He moved to that single and vital place where fighters in combat zones found themselves in, where they hoped they would be safe. The changing quality of the engine noise was the first indication they were stateside, and he woke to a crouch in instant awareness. Clearly he had managed another few hours of shuteye, much to his shock. Expectation shot through him at the thought of standing on US soil again, and he stretched tall to work out some of the kinks. To sleep in a bed, eat food that wasn't out of plastic, and to catch a breath was what the next thirty days were about. Lonely or not. "N'thuck." The words were mumbled in half sleep, and that was the first sign Dexter had pulled himself out of an Ambien and painkiller haze. Joseph moved as best he could to face his friend and blurted out a laugh at the sight before him. Dexter had taken a hit to the face by flying rocks, and the bruising was bad. The area around his friend's nose was swollen so badly his eyes were squinting and only half open. "You look worse than shit," Joseph commented dryly. "Thuck you," Dexter replied. "Emily's gonna take one look at you and decide to marry me instead." "Not your gay ass," Dexter countered. Joseph laughed. His whole team knew about his preferences. It wasn't that he was out to everyone in the service, but SEALs had trust. Your team was your life and held your life. Not one person in the team judged him for anything less than his skills or the SEAL acceptance that one day they might die for each other. Around him the rest of the team started pulling together sleeping bags and packs, and Joseph cast a brief look over at Adams, who remained in the green stage of post alcohol/Ambien mixing but who somehow managed to sport a broad and blinding grin. As the C-17 banked for final approach, Joseph took his seat. The landing was smooth, the rocking motion as the brakes engaged jarring, but the actual stopping itself was heaven. The plane rolled to journey's end at just before zero one hundred, and then the small band of SEALs trudged tiredly from the plane. When it came to disembarking, Joseph had never felt happier the SEALs never had to share a plane with anything other than a few combat support guys. Six guys getting off one plane made life a lot easier than a plane full of troops. As soon as his booted feet hit the blacktop, Joseph inhaled deeply of the fresh Virginia air. Everyone stood absolutely still for a few seconds, and Joseph glanced critically at each man. Apart from Dexter and his nose, the team of six men, by some luck and more than a little skill, had made it back largely unscathed. The way every man stood so utterly still meant he wasn't the only one to be glad they'd made it back alive. The team's reactions to coming home varied from excited to resigned to way-too-exhausted-to-register. The night of landings was always the same. With unspoken agreement, the small group started the walk back to the main hanger where there would be some way of getting back to wherever the hell they all needed to go. Some, like him and Dexter, had apartments nearby; others had rooms in larger houses. All had to be within the one-hour recall when not on leave. He and Dexter walked side by side as the SEALs made their way from the immediate area to the regroup point. "Fuck. Commander's here." The curse from Fuentes stopped him in his tracks. Joseph startled at the pronouncement that spilled from the team's newest recruit's mouth. The words were tinged with newbie awe that the commanding officer was in attendance to their arrival home. Joseph was instantly watchful and tried to make out who the CO was looking at. The team usually had time to breathe before the official crap started, but the CO being here, standing silently and waiting for them to arrive, could mean only one thing. For one of the six in the team, there was bad news. Something had happened while they were deployed, and for one of them, life had somehow changed when they were out of reach. "Shit." Even with the broken nose, Dexter uttered that single word very clearly and with an edge of fear. Dexter not only had the long-term girlfriend but two living parents and five siblings with associated partners and children. Jeez. Not Dexter. The lieutenant held up a hand to stop his team and then walked swiftly ahead to stand toe-to-toe with the CO. They talked briefly, and the lieutenant turned to face his men with a look of resignation on his face. "Chief Kinnon," he started firmly. "Go with the CO." The entire bottom fell out of Joseph's world, and he reached blindly to grip Dexter's arm. Dexter took a step forward to go with Joseph, but he pulled him to a stop. "It's okay," he reassured Dexter, and tugged his arm free. It wasn't okay. It was far from being okay. He only had a few people outside his team that meant anything to him. Something had happened to his mom? It was the only thing he could think of, the only family he had, and that his CO was standing there waiting to tell him bad news was wrong. He took the few short steps to the CO, a tall imposing man with a face carved from stone. Commander Finch hadn't gotten to be a CO of elite SEAL teams by being the nice guy. He was tension and passion and loyalty all wrapped up in one commanding presence. "Chief Kinnon." "Sir." "Walk with me, son." Only training and blind obedience kept Joseph from freezing in the middle of the freaking airfield refusing to move and demanding answers right the fuck now. They reached a door and passed through it into the shaded corner of a huge hangar. Dim lighting was enough to see compassion on the CO's face. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, Joseph. While you were off radar, your stepsister passed away." Chapter 2 "Elisabeth?" Of course Elisabeth. He had only one stepsister. When his mom had remarried two years before, he had inherited both her and a stepdad, Harvey Costain. He didn't know them very well. He was never stateside long enough to form a real bond, but, jeez, his mom and Harvey must be devastated. "You have my condolences." "What the fu—hell happened? Sir." He added the belated sir on the end as his training kicking in with a vengeance. "The police are conducting a murder investigation." "Murder?" Joseph dropped his pack to the floor as any energy he had slid straight out of him. " How? Who?" "If it's any consolation, it was quick, and she wasn't… harmed in any other way." Consolation? Quick wasn't a consolation to any family. One day it might be. But now? Nothing made this easier to hear. "She was coming to stay—we weren't close—but she wanted to spend time with me…" He was rambling. Why the hell was he telling all this to a man who didn't need to hear it? He could hear himself talking, but the shock weighed heavy on him, and suddenly the words just stopped. Emotion choked his throat. This leave was supposed to be him finally finding his role as a big brother, maybe even giving definition to his life. And from what she'd said, to Elisabeth's life as well. She had called him and left messages when he'd come back last time, said she needed a friend, a brother, said it had been too long since their parents married for them to connect. His CO was still talking in that tone only reserved for those who had to dispatch bad news on a regular basis. Soft and low and so damn understanding. "Is there someone who can help you? I can assign someone from the family liaison—" "No," Joseph said quickly. This was his family, and he didn't need liaison or support or any of that official shit. His shoulders were plenty broad enough to handle what life threw at him. This would be no different. Priorities. It was all about priorities to make sense of the buzzing in his head. Intel was first. A SEAL was nothing without the intelligence gathering to back up a mission. Phone his mom to find out when it had happened and why it had happened. Pushing back the flood of sudden grief that forced its way forward, he fell back on his training. "Can you make sure Dexter sees a medic, sir? And tell the lieutenant I'll be back in the normal thirty days." "I will. And Joseph? Between you and me, if you plan on—" He paused. "—doing anything then just be careful. Good luck, son." It was a four-mile run to his apartment in Virginia Beach. Less than twenty minutes and he would be in his place. An hour and he could have showered Afghanistan from his skin, shaved his thick facial hair and packed. Three and he would be heading to Albany to find answers. * * * * His apartment was just as he had left it—empty and clean. In a daze he went through the motions of finding the man under the layers of grime. Shaving the beard that protected his skin beneath removed the persona of soldier a scrape at a time, and the shower water was cold before he exited the stall. This was ritual; this was normal, and for a few minutes, he found solace in the repetition of actions that grounded him to the here and now. He heard his cell but didn't answer it, just left it on charge as it was flat from its disuse and only showed one bar of charge. He knew Dexter was trying to contact him, but until he had his bags packed and he was on the road, he wasn't ready to answer questions. Dexter stopped calling; instead he texted a simple call me, which Joseph knew was his friend's way of offering unconditional support and showing he would back off and wait for Joseph to make the first move. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and grabbing a jacket from his closet, he checked he had wallet, keys, and his bag. Locking the door and crossing to his old Jeep, he hoped to God the damn thing started after sitting for so long. The heap started on the third turn just as Joseph thought his luck might well have run out. Three thirty-five in the morning, and he was heading north on highway 13. Shock was something he knew one hell of a lot about. The dead and dying and the ones who watched… He had seen the horror of it all, and as detached as he had to be, he could categorize every single nuance of disbelief and grief. None of what he knew was even halfway real when he remembered his stepsister. He pulled off at a gas stop for fuel and grabbed a protein bar and a bottle of water. He couldn't delay the inevitable any longer, and with a heavy heart, he dialed the number he knew by heart. His mom answered on the third ring. Proof that it didn't matter what time of day he called; she would have a phone close by. "Joseph," she said calmly. "Did they tell you?" "I'm so sorry, Mom. How is Harvey?" Joseph was a master at changing the subject, and his mom didn't call him on it. "Devastated. Totally heartbroken. We've had newspapers calling for interviews and people stalking us, taking photos. It's only died down in the last month." The last month? Why the hell had it garnered so much attention? "We tried to let you know. Passed it on to the right people. They said they would let you know when you were back in the US." That sounded about right. Joseph and the rest of the team were very often off radar and out of reach. It was standard procedure to make contact when it didn't jeopardize what the SEALs were doing. "Will you tell him I am so sorry for his loss?" Joseph offered gently. He had a lot of respect for Harvey and felt grief for what the other man had gone through. "I will… wait—" Joseph heard the phone being passed to another; he assumed it was Harvey. "Joseph?" "I am so sorry for your loss." It felt wrong to say our loss. Harvey had lost a child, his daughter, and it must feel like nearing the end of times. Joseph had simply lost someone he'd begun to be friends with. It was a different world of pain. "Where are you, son?" Harvey sounded exhausted, and Joseph didn't bristle at the term "son". He never had. When his mom had met Harvey, it was almost as if Joseph could finally let himself relax about who was looking after his mom. It felt real. Like a family. He had even received a readymade sister. Harvey had been more of a husband to his mom in two short years than Joseph's real father had been. He'd been nothing more than a sperm donor when his mom was sixteen. Should he lie? Tell Harvey he was on base or due to ship out? Would the man stop him from what he wanted to do if he actually admitted he was planning on looking into this murder? Harvey could well have already resolved his emotions about losing his daughter, probably in an arena that didn't include throwing himself in the middle of a murder investigation, as it did for Joseph. "On my way to Albany on the 13," he finally admitted. "What are you going to do?" There was tension in Harvey's voice, but no accusation or words to put Joseph's intended actions on hold. The line went quiet, and he wished he could see Harvey's expression. Had he put two and two together? Was the gentle man horrified or relieved Joseph was going to the place his daughter had been killed? Harvey and his mom living in Florida had never made Miami seem farther away. "I'm going to find out why my stepsister died, sir," he said very simply. Harvey exhaled noisily, and his mom was back on the phone in seconds. She had watched Joseph go into the Navy, become a SEAL, get ordered overseas. Every single time she had waved him off with a smile and a promise she would be there when he came back. She knew it was what he was trained for, and he was well aware this time would be no different. "What are you doing, Joseph?" "Going to find out who killed Elisabeth and why." He didn't expect her to stop him from taking this path, but he was aware she would have something to say on the matter. "Please, Joseph… stay safe. This is a very different kind of evil than what you are used to." "I'm always safe, Mom." He was good at reassuring. "How can we help?" Trust his mom to cut to the chase. He wanted to ask more about the case itself. "If it's not too hard, can you tell me what happened?" "We don't know much more than what was in the papers. Elisabeth was murdered in an alley at the back of a hotel near her home, and the shooter was a lifetime cop with a family. No one knows why she was there at that time or why she was shot. The case has been closed because the cop… Gareth Headley… admitted what he had done and is now serving time for his actions. Harvey wanted to stay in Albany and find out why the cop risked everything he had to kill someone, but his heart…" His mom had met Harvey volunteering in the heart unit at the local hospital. He might have been only in his early fifties, but, as he put it himself, he was on enough medication to rouse the dead. "It's enough for me to start." "Will you call us when you have anything?" "I will, Mom." The call ended with the usual goodbyes. Whatever had happened to Elisabeth, he had thirty days to find the answer. Whoever had hurt his stepsister—killed her—wasn't going to get away with this. Justice would be done. That much he was sure of.</div>

The Only Easy Day - New Cover Art

One dead girl, one scared witness, and two men trained as Navy SEALS. Whether searching for justice or revenge, the final showdown between t...

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