war
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When the Stars Fall by Robin Goodfellow
You had a black dress on that day, with a dark ribbon on your back. Dark, raven hair callously swept over your eyes as you examined your work. You stared at your victims for the longest time, before you crouched down, and stabbed your arm in their chests. You dragged out their still beating hearts, and watched as it slowly succumb to death.
Reinforcements came. An onslaught of medical units hurriedly transported their charges off the battlefield. They saved everyone they could, mourned for those they couldn’t, and killed enemy soldiers you missed. Before I knew it, someone managed to shove a gas mask on my face, then dragged the two of us to the helicopter. Magic, they said. The air was laced with magic.
I remembered searching for you, wanting to thank you for saving the both of us. I saw you standing over someone, a body beneath your heel. You weren’t paying much attention, but that was fine. You were busy.
But I still thought to myself, “She looks really pretty.”
Destiny’s Plan by Victoria Saccenti
One empty bus seat. Two aching hearts. A future written by Fate…
When Raquelita Muro’s overbearing mother rips her and her little sister away from their beloved Papa, one tiny, rebellious corner of Raquelita’s heart is grateful that the bus is crowded, and the only seat left is out of Mama’s sight. Next to a handsome young man.
Matthew Buchanan’s beautiful traveling companion is more than something pretty to look at before he ships out for Viet Nam. Deep in her sad, whisky-colored eyes he glimpses a new dream to replace the ones he’s leaving behind. It breaks his heart to leave Raquelita in her tyrannical mother’s hands, but she gifts him with a token of love and a tender promise to exchange letters in secret.
But their first, shy “hello” has reached the ears of Fate. Fate is in the mood to see how far it can push two lonely hearts—to the brink of temptation, desperation, and despair—before they break. Perhaps beyond any hope of healing…
Iron Manimal 2 by H. Seitz
Iron Manimal is back with a vengeance. With nothing left to return to, he must make a new place for himself in the world. After so much time alone in the wilderness, will he be able to cope? Or will the consequences of his actions finally catch up to him?
Beauty of The Beast by Viktoria Faust
Viktoria, a young and not particularly talented painter, comes across war vampires in the middle of war torn Croatia in 1992. She becomes obsessed with them but socializing with vampires is dangerous. One of them attacks her and infects her with what she believes is AIDS. To save herself she leaves with Damian, the oldest of the vampires, on an adventure that will prolong her life forever … or end it.
Emperor’s Assassin Bride (Dazon Agenda Book 6) by Aurelia Skye
Jordan Saunders has the misfortune of being Emperor Aryk’s ideal genetic partner and future mate. The power-mad emperor doesn’t care if she wants the union, and he’ll use any tactic to claim her. She’s appalled when her mother tells her she’s brokered a ceasefire with Dazon,… but Jordan is the cost of securing the peace. Involved with Sash Darvig, she can’t stomach the idea of marrying the ruthless emperor. Fortunately, her mother has a different plan in mind. She isn’t going there to marry him, but to assassinate him.
Sash doesn’t take the news well and realizes too late Jordan is his mate. By the time he has his epiphany, she’s already gone. He’s determined to rescue her, but that proves difficult when she won’t allow him to “save” her from her critical mission. She has to kill the emperor or die trying, even if it costs her the love of her life.
Coquina Hard by Lorain O’Neil
We were all taught that thirteen colonies united against the British in the American Revolution—nothing is ever mentioned of the fourteenth colony, the one that went loyalist, fought against the Revolution, and paid a devastating price: Florida.
Coquina Hard opens amidst the true story of the British military crushing the rebellion of thousands of Catholics who’d been tricked into slavery by a British aristocrat, Dr. Turnbull, sailed to Florida, and forced to build a town (New Smyrna, which exists to this day).
One of those enslaved is orphan Toria Brighton who escapes and falls in love with a handsome Georgia patriot who gives her the chance of returning home. Instead, Toria chooses to return to New Smyrna to lead survivors to freedom in St. Augustine (the daring escape is true and well documented historically) while the American Revolution explodes around her.
Tess – Valkyrie Awakening by Andres Mann
A fast paced and erotic action novel set during the second Gulf War in Iraqi, three remarkable people are caught in a web of obsession and deceit. Tess is a military helicopter pilot; beautiful, aggressive and relentless. She awakens as real woman due to the love of two men: Jake, a brilliant CIA agent and Amir, a wealthy, charming, sophisticated but dissolute Iraqi general who initially captures Tess and becomes obsessed with her. Tess escapes but must fulfill a commitment to take something from Amir. After meeting in Istanbul, Amir persuades her to spend time with him in France and England in exchange for what she is seeking. Here she meets Fadime, his alluring and decadent sister. In the end, Amir deceives Tess. She returns to Iraq, trying to overcome her heartbreak by flying dangerous missions and rescuing wounded soldiers. An unforeseen event changes everything. Tess and Amir continue to square off in an epic struggle, each wanting the same thing. Aided by Jake, Tess’s friend and co-pilot Carmen and their colleagues, Tess must overcome Amir’s vicious attacks motivated by his continuing obsession with her. They repeatedly clash in a succession of encounters in Baghdad, Amman, Istanbul, Sorrento and New York. Carmen finally meets her soul mate in Nicola, who helps her overcome the traumas of her youth and becomes a valuable member of their team. The two women respond to their challenges by drawing on their skills as skilled pilots and fierce warriors, battling Amir, who not only hurt Tess but plans to take over the Iraqi government. Their struggle leads to a series of violent and bloody battles in the air and on the ground. A heartbreaking loss at the end is redeemed by a final poignant resolution.
