Short Story in the December Newsletter

    

    But somehow, since they started teaching at Serenity Landing Elementary II, he’s managed to worm his way into her life and make himself indispensable. Vince Roberts has loved Samantha since their first date, though he hasn’t done the best job of showing it. Spending time together is one reason he volunteered both of them to plan the staff Christmas party. They work together to take care of one of their own, dealing with the recent death of her husband in a house fire. As they plan the party, Samantha tries to keep Vince from finding his way into her heart. Will she admit the feelings that have been growing for so many years or walk away from Gifts of Love?

    Then the next-door neighbor s oldest son, Abram, comes running into Fern s kitchen seeking help for his little sister. The crisis soon leads to a promise of romance until mistrust threatens to end the growing attraction.

     Delaney Lawson returns to her hometown to catch up and have fun with her girlfriends. Everything changes when she almost dies in a car accident and discovers it was definitely not accidental. For her safety, she hires Ethan… a muscular, powerful, hot bodyguard who watches her every move. But he’s doing more than keeping her safe from the stalker’s escalating threats—he’s sparking all kinds of naughty thoughts she yearns to act on. Unfortunately, he’s determined to keep his hands off her.  Despite their attempts to maintain a professional distance, heat flares between them and their sexual chemistry spirals into an intense connection. But when the stalker’s threats against Delaney escalate, Delaney and Ethan must choose between saving themselves... or saving each other.

    Clint is wild, free, and big enough to climb. Get ready for a quick and steamy new series featuring the protective older men of Knotty Wood Ridge and the curvy younger women that fall for them. No cliffhangers here. Just Mountain Men bringing the guaranteed HEA heat to your kindle!

    Writing splashy stories by day while she writes dirty ditties at night, she knows better to want for more. Unless it’s the love and adoration it seems everyone else is finding. Sweet, forever after love is for romance books, not real life.Or maybe she has had the best book boyfriend right in front of her.Micah Townes busted his ass to get his life right. A troubled youth means he takes nothing for granted. Especially the most important person in his life, Mila. Even if he wants more from her, he knows not to ask at the risk of losing her.A double date raises the stakes of their friendship---which maybe is not just a friendship after all.

    But his Christmas wish is interrupted when a sniper serial killer comes to his town of Splendor, California.Bodies are dropping left and right, and mysterious clues left at each scene lead Knight to suspect every Netherworld creature in town. Things get personal when Dulcie disappears, leaving Knight increasingly desperate to solve the case. Will he and his team be able to unwrap the killer’s identity before it’s too late or will this turn out to be Knight's worst Christmas ever? This holiday season, H.P. Mallory brews up an entertaining mystery full of sexy supernaturals and creepy Christmastime crimes.

    In it you will meet characters from all of those books. I hope it’s fun and entertaining, I hope it piques your interest in one or both of the series, I hope you enjoy it. But if you haven’t read either series and feel a little lost… yeah, that makes sense. And if you feel like the story is very short… well, you’re right. I wrote the Bradford series (Just Right, Just Like That, Just My Type, Just For Fun and Just A Kiss) in 2010 and 2012. I was thrilled when readers fell as in love with the characters and stories as I had! So, when it came time to say goodbye to that group, I balked. And came up with an idea for a spin-off series. The new group, now known as the Dixons, appear in my Counting On Love series (She’s the One, It Takes Two, Best of Three, Going for Four and Up by Five). They know and interact with the Bradford gang and some of the characters from the Bradfords show up in the Counting on Love books. It’s been so fun to revisit old friends while making new ones and readers have told me over and over how much they’ve enjoyed the ties between the two series. So, I thought that it might be fun (and maybe even helpful) to explain how the two series connect. And the seed for Just Count on Me, a short story bridging the two series, was planted. Again, it is a short story. It doesn’t have a distinct conclusion. There are a lot of people introduced in not-many pages and it could be easy to get lost. And did I mention, it’s short? With all of that said, enjoy! This is for my fans! I love writing these characters over and over because you love these characters time and time again!

    Their relationship is headed toward a future both of them desire until a mistake from her past returns to haunt them both. When the fragile bond of trust is broken between them, it will take more than a promise of redemption for the two of them to find their way back to one another.

     Mandy: I won a trip to a beautiful resort in the Blue Ridge mountains. I thought it was going to be the perfect vacation until things took a turn for the worst. My best friend bailed on me at the last minute and the resort looked like something out of a horror movie. It definitely didn't look like the paradise I saw in the brochure. The only saving grace was Red, a rough man with a grizzled voice that set my heart on fire. He was unbelievable hot, with muscles as big as the mountain itself. He made me question my innocence and put thoughts in my head that no virgin should have. All of that happened before he leaned in and told me that he was going to claim me as his own. Red: I found solace in the Blue Ridge mountains when I returned home after having enough of the so-called real world. My family's resort was a disaster and I was determined to rebuild it. I never imagined I would end up with an unexpected guest. Her delicious curves drew me in. Her luscious lips needed to be crushed beneath mine. I didn't care if she was untouched. I didn't care if she was pure. She needed a rough man's touch and I was going to give it to her. I wasn't just going to be her first, I was going to be her last. Kelli's Note: If you're looking for insta-love and suspense, you're in the right place. My job is to make your panties melt if you forgot to leave them at the door. If that is what you're looking for, then you definitely want to dream about a Real Rough Man tonight.

    She's far from welcome as the reclusive actor is convinced she's another adoring fan invading his privacy. Both Clare and Logan are determined she will leave as soon as the roads are clear. That is, until producer Marvin Hobbs shows up right behind the snow plow, convinced he'll find his wife, Janine, in Logan's arms.When Janine appears on cue, Clare is suddenly cast in the part of Logan's fiancée. Clare and Logan must give flawless performances, or the movie deal Logan and Marvin are negotiating will fall apart. Logan is a superb actor, leaving Clare breathless. But it was never in the script for her to fall in love...Category-length novel.(Originally published under the pen name Maxine Patrick).

    Her roommate Camdyn’s plans, however, sound nearly perfect: A homemade Missouri Christmas, complete with a traditional turkey feast and the warmth and welcome of a festive home. The invitation to spend Christmas in Missouri is impossible to resist, and so is Camdyn’s brother, Charlie. Kind, smart, attractive, and determined, Charlie Taylor is everything Trina’s imagined in her perfect match. He’s also off limits.The Taylors are determined to give Trina the gift of a loving family Christmas, and she’s ready to rediscover the joy of the season. Is it possible to unwrap the ideal holiday while keeping her feelings for Charlie locked away?

    She treasures beading jewelry for her own small business while watching nature and its amazing creatures outside her window. But, her mom begs her to move back to the city so she can find a man to marry. Holly doesn’t want to give up on her dreams, but does that mean she’ll have to give up on love?

    But on arriving at the stretch of land and charming general store, Maggie finds she must take on an unexpected responsibility. When a quiet and serious-looking hiker, Cal Jones, offers to lend a hand, Maggie is suspicious of his motives—until she finds out the true reason for his deliberate isolation. As they spend time together, Maggie is given hope for something brighter in the future, if only they can learn to find peace and healing…and maybe even love.ANY DAY NOWFor Sierra Jones, Sullivan’s Crossing is meant to be a brief stopover. She’s put her troubled past behind her but the path forward isn’t yet clear. Cal and Maggie welcome her into their busy lives and she quickly finds herself bonding with Sully, the quirky campground owner who is the father figure she’s always wanted. But when her past catches up with her, it’s a special man and an adorable puppy who give her the strength to face the truth and fight for a brighter future. Sierra will learn to cherish the family you are given and the family you choose.