When his latest case falls on him and his partner--quite literally--Detective Nick Markov knows the destruction of his car by a not-yet-cold body is the least of his worries. The deceased is prominent businessman, Andrew Langan, and suicide is swiftly ruled out after Nick pursues the killers down twenty-seven flights--and loses them.

To his superiors' frustrations, Nick doesn't believe Langan's soon-to-be ex-wife, Augusta, is guilty, even though she has motive, opportunity, no alibi and a shady past. The only reasons Nick has for going against logical dictates are the feeling in his gut and the constriction in his chest.

Augusta is thrust back into an unwanted spotlight and her quiet life shattered. Then things go downhill. In between dodging the media, she confronts muggers, kidnappers and goons better dressed than she. With Nick Markov, who dredges up a past she'd rather forget and feelings she'd rather not acknowledge, Augusta must race to unravel her late husband's secrets before she finds herself skydiving without a parachute.

This book was previously published in an altered form entitled Fall Dead by Cerridwen Press/Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc. in 2005 and is revised.


WARNING: Graphic language and explicit sex scenes (M/F).


LENGTH: Novel (74,600 words)


EXCERPT

"Damn it, Ethan," Nick Markov muttered, trying to steady his drunken partner and keep him from falling flat on his face and doing permanent damage to it. "Your wife's going to have my ass for this."

Ethan Murtagh's scowl bordered on a pout more suited to a two-year-old. "I can walk on my own two feet," he said, his words only slightly slurred. He stumbled, nearly taking them both down.

Nick grunted and muttered, "Right."

It was several frustrating moments before Nick managed to strap his partner into the passenger seat of the black SUV parked in front of the bar. Ethan had been, once again, trying to drink himself into a stupor. He didn't handle disagreements with his significant other well. The current dispute was over the photographer who had shot his wife's swimsuit spread the previous week in the Bahamas.

"You'd better hope Torie's asleep when I get you home," Nick said, getting behind the wheel.

A disgruntled sound came from the sprawled figure beside him. Nick answered with a grunt of his own as he pulled out. At almost one in the morning on a Wednesday night, it was relatively quiet in the Sixties on the Upper East Side, so it was a few short minutes before he was turning onto Fifth Avenue. Deciding it wouldn't take long to get Ethan upstairs and into his nineteenth-floor condo, Nick stopped the SUV in front of the building, killed the engine and flipped down his visor to display his credentials. He released his seat belt buckle, then reached over for his partner's. Ethan mumbled a protest, swatted at Nick's helping hand and fumbled with the door handle. Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, Nick grabbed a fistful of his partner's jacket.

"Stay put," Nick said. "You open that door, you'll land on your pretty face and Torie will never forgive me."

Ethan fell back in his seat, head tilted back, eyes closed. Satisfied, Nick opened his door, got out and made his way to the passenger side door. Ethan didn't move when he pulled the door open. Nick silently groaned at the possibility of having to carry his less-than-petite partner upstairs.

Before Nick could reach for his semiconscious partner, small pebbles pinged the roof of the SUV and bounced off his head and the sidewalk. Frowning, he skimmed a hand over his hair and his gaze across the roof of his vehicle. The pebbles glittered faintly under the mellow glow of the streetlight.

Not pebbles. Glass shards.

Nick glanced up--and froze, his gaze transfixed by the body above him.

Copyright © 2005, 2011 by Ann Bruce. All rights reserved.

When his latest case falls on him and his partner--quite literally--Detective Nick Markov knows the destruction of his car by a not-yet-cold body is the least of his worries. The deceased is prominent businessman, Andrew Langan, and suicide is swiftly ruled out after Nick pursues the killers down twenty-seven flights--and loses them.

To his superiors' frustrations, Nick doesn't believe Langan's soon-to-be ex-wife, Augusta, is guilty, even though she has motive, opportunity, no alibi and a shady past. The only reasons Nick has for going against logical dictates are the feeling in his gut and the constriction in his chest.

Augusta is thrust back into an unwanted spotlight and her quiet life shattered. Then things go downhill. In between dodging the media, she confronts muggers, kidnappers and goons better dressed than she. With Nick Markov, who dredges up a past she'd rather forget and feelings she'd rather not acknowledge, Augusta must race to unravel her late husband's secrets before she finds herself skydiving without a parachute.

This book was previously published in an altered form entitled Fall Dead by Cerridwen Press/Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc. in 2005 and is revised.


WARNING: Graphic language and explicit sex scenes (M/F).


LENGTH: Novel (74,600 words)


EXCERPT

"Damn it, Ethan," Nick Markov muttered, trying to steady his drunken partner and keep him from falling flat on his face and doing permanent damage to it. "Your wife's going to have my ass for this."

Ethan Murtagh's scowl bordered on a pout more suited to a two-year-old. "I can walk on my own two feet," he said, his words only slightly slurred. He stumbled, nearly taking them both down.

Nick grunted and muttered, "Right."

It was several frustrating moments before Nick managed to strap his partner into the passenger seat of the black SUV parked in front of the bar. Ethan had been, once again, trying to drink himself into a stupor. He didn't handle disagreements with his significant other well. The current dispute was over the photographer who had shot his wife's swimsuit spread the previous week in the Bahamas.

"You'd better hope Torie's asleep when I get you home," Nick said, getting behind the wheel.

A disgruntled sound came from the sprawled figure beside him. Nick answered with a grunt of his own as he pulled out. At almost one in the morning on a Wednesday night, it was relatively quiet in the Sixties on the Upper East Side, so it was a few short minutes before he was turning onto Fifth Avenue. Deciding it wouldn't take long to get Ethan upstairs and into his nineteenth-floor condo, Nick stopped the SUV in front of the building, killed the engine and flipped down his visor to display his credentials. He released his seat belt buckle, then reached over for his partner's. Ethan mumbled a protest, swatted at Nick's helping hand and fumbled with the door handle. Suppressing the urge to roll his eyes, Nick grabbed a fistful of his partner's jacket.

"Stay put," Nick said. "You open that door, you'll land on your pretty face and Torie will never forgive me."

Ethan fell back in his seat, head tilted back, eyes closed. Satisfied, Nick opened his door, got out and made his way to the passenger side door. Ethan didn't move when he pulled the door open. Nick silently groaned at the possibility of having to carry his less-than-petite partner upstairs.

Before Nick could reach for his semiconscious partner, small pebbles pinged the roof of the SUV and bounced off his head and the sidewalk. Frowning, he skimmed a hand over his hair and his gaze across the roof of his vehicle. The pebbles glittered faintly under the mellow glow of the streetlight.

Not pebbles. Glass shards.

Nick glanced up--and froze, his gaze transfixed by the body above him.

Copyright © 2005, 2011 by Ann Bruce. All rights reserved.

An epic journey of deceit, betrayal, magic and a treasonous love sets sail as Meath, a young apprentice to the formidable wizard, Ursa, escapes certain death while a freshly united Kingdom is held captive by a false Prince. In hope of relaying the truth of the usurper who now threatens the throne, Meath embarks on a dangerous journey with the true heiress, Nicolette, in an attempt to reach her Uncle before they too are entangled in the lie that has wound itself deep into the lands. Amidst the soldiers dispatched to return the princess and capture Meath and his friends, they must avoid the barbarian clans who have begun a savage war on the Kingdom of Draco; evading what seems like fate has become a perilous game they may not be able to win…

An epic journey of deceit, betrayal, magic and a treasonous love sets sail as Meath, a young apprentice to the formidable wizard, Ursa, escapes certain death while a freshly united Kingdom is held captive by a false Prince. In hope of relaying the truth of the usurper who now threatens the throne, Meath embarks on a dangerous journey with the true heiress, Nicolette, in an attempt to reach her Uncle before they too are entangled in the lie that has wound itself deep into the lands. Amidst the soldiers dispatched to return the princess and capture Meath and his friends, they must avoid the barbarian clans who have begun a savage war on the Kingdom of Draco; evading what seems like fate has become a perilous game they may not be able to win…

Carrie is a world renowned children's author and single mum. In the past she has escaped from an abusive relationship and now lives successfully in Scotland, continuing her literary career and bringing up her son amongst a close circle of friends. Lately, she has been receiving threats and through time, these have turned more sinister. Needless to say the stress begins to get to her.
Jake is an award winning international businessman who buys the Estate in Scotland within which Carrie's house stands. Their relationship gets off to a bad start when Jake upsets Carrie's son!
However, their paths seem destined to cross and the tension between them is palpable. It seems other people can see their destiny, but they continue to fight it.
As the threats escalate, Jake is there for her - he organises and gets things done, what's not to like and trust about him?
A lot, as far as Carrie is concerned!
Carrie retreats on a major scale frightened to acknowledge what's happening between them - until a chance encounter when Jake decides enough is enough.
From that moment on the sheets burn with the passion that explodes between them.
Are the few shared days of passion enough to ensure a happy ever after?


This is Sarah Fredricks debut novel.

Number of words: 55603

Carrie is a world renowned children's author and single mum. In the past she has escaped from an abusive relationship and now lives successfully in Scotland, continuing her literary career and bringing up her son amongst a close circle of friends. Lately, she has been receiving threats and through time, these have turned more sinister. Needless to say the stress begins to get to her.
Jake is an award winning international businessman who buys the Estate in Scotland within which Carrie's house stands. Their relationship gets off to a bad start when Jake upsets Carrie's son!
However, their paths seem destined to cross and the tension between them is palpable. It seems other people can see their destiny, but they continue to fight it.
As the threats escalate, Jake is there for her - he organises and gets things done, what's not to like and trust about him?
A lot, as far as Carrie is concerned!
Carrie retreats on a major scale frightened to acknowledge what's happening between them - until a chance encounter when Jake decides enough is enough.
From that moment on the sheets burn with the passion that explodes between them.
Are the few shared days of passion enough to ensure a happy ever after?


This is Sarah Fredricks debut novel.

Number of words: 55603

In the tradition of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, a stunningly vivid historical account of the forty-year battle between Comanche Indians and white settlers for control of the American West, centering on Quanah, the greatest Comanche chief of them all.

S. C. Gwynne’s Empire of the Summer Moon spans two astonishing stories. The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history. The second entails one of the most remarkable narratives ever to come out of the Old West: the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the Comanches.

Although readers may be more familiar with the tribal names Apache and Sioux, it was in fact the legendary fighting ability of the Comanches that determined just how and when the American West opened up. Comanche boys became adept bareback riders by age six; full Comanche braves were considered the best horsemen who ever rode. They were so masterful at war and so skillful with their arrows and lances that they stopped the northern drive of colonial Spain from Mexico and halted the French expansion westward from Louisiana. White settlers arriving in Texas from the eastern United States were surprised to find the frontier being rolled backward by Comanches incensed by the invasion of their tribal lands. So effective were the Comanches that they forced the creation of the Texas Rangers and account for the advent of the new weapon specifically designed to fight them: the six-gun.

The war with the Comanches lasted four decades, in effect holding up the development of the new American nation. Gwynne’s exhilarating account delivers a sweeping narrative that encompasses Spanish colonialism, the Civil War, the destruction of the buffalo herds, and the arrival of the railroads—a historical feast for anyone interested in how the United States came into being.

Against this backdrop Gwynne presents the compelling drama of Cynthia Ann Parker, a lovely nine-year-old girl with cornflower-blue eyes who was kidnapped by Comanches from the far Texas frontier in 1836. She grew to love her captors and became infamous as the "White Squaw" who refused to return until her tragic capture by Texas Rangers in 1860. More famous still was her son Quanah, a warrior who was never defeated and whose guerrilla wars in the Texas Panhandle made him a legend.

S. C. Gwynne’s account of these events is meticulously researched, intellectually provocative, and, above all, thrillingly told. Empire of the Summer Moon announces him as a major new writer of American history.

Amazon Best of the Month, September 2010: Welcome to the 20th century as you've never seen it. At over 1,000 pages, Fall of Giants delivers all the elements that fans of Ken Follett have come to treasure: historical accuracy, richly developed characters, and a sweeping yet intimate portrait of a past world that you'll fully inhabit before the first chapter is through. The story follows five families across the globe as their fates intertwine with the extraordinary events of World War I, the political struggles within their own countries, and the rise of the feminist movement. Intriguing stories of love and loyalty abound, from a forbidden romance between a German spy and a British aristocrat to a Russian soldier and his scandal-ridden brother in love with the same woman. Action-packed with blood on the battlefield and conspiracies behind closed doors, Fall of Giants brings the nuances of each character to life and shifts easily from dirty coal mines to sparkling palaces. There is so much to love here, and the good news is the end is just the beginning: Fall of Giants is the first in a planned trilogy. --Miriam Landis

If I fall will you catch me?
Ciara is an ambitious freshman, sure that life will only get better as she joins her long-time boyfriend at Aurbor Grove University. Before the first day of class, she’s hit with a tragedy and finds herself consumed with distrust.

College…it ain’t for everybody.
Raised by a no-nonsense, Christian grandmother, going to college was a non-negotiable for Nick. Once there, the study hard, play harder culture awakens a dangerous addiction that could not only cause him to lose his scholarship, but his livelihood.

Don’t Let Me Fall is the first in The Village Series which shows the living, loving and learning of the most interesting students. Visit www.TheVillagebyLMichelle.com for more

If I fall will you catch me?
Ciara is an ambitious freshman, sure that life will only get better as she joins her long-time boyfriend at Aurbor Grove University. Before the first day of class, she’s hit with a tragedy and finds herself consumed with distrust.

College…it ain’t for everybody.
Raised by a no-nonsense, Christian grandmother, going to college was a non-negotiable for Nick. Once there, the study hard, play harder culture awakens a dangerous addiction that could not only cause him to lose his scholarship, but his livelihood.

Don’t Let Me Fall is the first in The Village Series which shows the living, loving and learning of the most interesting students. Visit www.TheVillagebyLMichelle.com for more

• 1996 - Silhouette Special Edition - Paperback - 1st Edition
• The Fall of Shane Mackade
• By Beastselleing Author : Nora Roberts
• VG Cond - The Mackade Brothers Series
• Collectible

SHANE MACKADE? A GROOM?

Shane MacKade loved women. But he hadn’t met one yet who had him whistling the wedding march. Until Dr. Rebecca Knight. Problem was, the pretty lady was too busy hunting legends on the MacKade land to succumb to the MacKade charm. Maybe it was time to pop the old question. ’Cause this was one woman Shane couldn’t live without.…

To Dr. Rebecca Knight, everything was explainable. Until she started having some very irrational thoughts about sexy Shane MacKade. She didn’t know much about men, but she knew one thing for sure: Loving Shane was dangerous—and Rebecca didn’t like to take chances...

THE MACKADE BROTHERS Looking for trouble—and always finding it. Now they’re on a collision course with love.

Aspen Falls was happy. Her life was good. Blessed with a wonderful family and a loyal best friend, Aspen did know a measure of contentment. Still, to Aspen it seemed something was missing-something hovering just beyond her reach-something entirely satisfying that would ensure her happiness. Yet she couldn't consciously determine what the "something" was. And so, Aspen sailed through life, not quite perfectly content perhaps but grateful for her measure of contentment. Grateful, that is, until he appeared-the man in the park-the stranger who jogged past the bench where Aspen sat during her lunch break each day. As handsome as a dream and twice as alluring, the man epitomized the absolute stereotypical "real man"-and Aspen's measure of contentment vanished! Would Aspen Falls reclaim the comfortable contentment she once knew? Or would the handsome real-man stranger linger in her mind like a sweet, tricky venom-poisoning all hope of Aspen's ever finding true happiness with any other man?