The Reckoning Release Day!!

The Reckoning Release Party !

Please help me celebrate the release of The Reckoning! After putting months and months of blood, sweat, and tears into a book, we authors feel like we at least deserve a parade, a party, a live band, maybe some of those balloons falling from the ceiling!  Usually, we just sit at home by ourselves and begin plotting our next book.

Anyway, The Reckoning is available now for purchase in both paperback and ebook form!
You can order your copy from:  Amazon   Barnes and Noble  Kobo  or  Itunes    Paperback
However, Today is the last day to win a FREE paperback (US only) or Ebook (non US) 

First things first, last week's winner (chosen by Random.org) is Callie!!  Congratulations!  And thank you all for entering. 

In case you missed it, here's a bit about the story.

When Morgan Shaw crept into the hold of an old pirate ship replica at San Diego’s Annual Tall Ship Festival, her only intention was to avoid the guy who had just dumped her and who was now boarding the ship with two women on his arm. What she didn’t expect was to wake up aboard a real pirate ship three-hundred years in the past. But of course, it wasn’t real. Her wealthy father had obviously staged it all in an effort to get her mind off her upcoming chemo. Or had he? 

Pirate Rowan Dutton seeks enough treasure to repay a debt to his sister and reinstate the Dutton name among British Jamaican Society. He is but one major haul away from accomplishing his goal when a strange woman appears on his ship and causes him to lose his prey. Despite his anger, he is enthralled with the little minx, her strange clothing, odd speech, and her insistence that they are all actors playing a charade paid for by her father.

Yet when the brazen little lady divulges Rowan’s secret to a longtime nemesis, events are triggered that could cost them both their lives and change the course of history forever.

Last week, I posted an excerpt from the book and then gave you multiple choice answers to what the heroine would say next. Surprisingly, most of you got it right!! (Guess I made it too easy)
The answer from last week was C.  "Says the pirate." She arched a brow at him

This week, I'm posting another excerpt, and this time you have to guess what the hero will say. I hope you enjoy it!!

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He shifted in his seat, an unintentional groan spilling from his lips. The pesky cat mistook it as an invitation, for it squeezed from its mistress’ arms and leapt onto Rowan’s lap. The movement woke the fair lady. Her eyes suddenly popped open, and she leapt backward in her bed, slamming against the bulkhead.

“’Tis just me, Lady Minx.” Rowan tossed the drawing back onto the table, while inadvertently stroking the cat with his other hand.

Several seconds passed as wind whistled against the window and candlelight swayed over the edge of her cot.

“Have you come to steal my cat or my virginity?” she finally asked in a curt tone.

He laughed. “Neither, though the latter has some appeal.” He realized he was petting the infernal cat and set it on the floor.

“You may take your appeal, along with yourself, elsewhere.”

“It would serve you well to remember upon whose ship you sail.”

“It would serve you well to remember who is paying your salary.”

“Ah, the illusive father, of course.” He chuckled.

The kitten leapt onto the cot and disappeared into the shadows with its mistress.

“What is it you want, Rowan?” she asked. “You lock me in this stifling room for three days for no reason. And now, I’ve missed my onco—doctor’s appointment. I hope you’re happy with yourself.”

“I find myself nearly always so, Lady Minx.”

She huffed. “So I’ve noticed.”

Despite her insult, he found himself wishing he could see the sarcastic quirk of her lips.

Leaning back in the chair, he crossed arms over his chest. “In truth, I have come to make amends for my recent treatment, though you rightly deserved it and more.”

She laughed, then uttered one word emphatically. “Fail.”

Rowan searched his mind for any possible meaning. “I beg your pardon?”

“When an apology is followed by an insult, it loses its meaning.”

He rubbed his temples, seeking to stay the frustration churning there. “Do you wish to be free or not, Lady Minx?”

“Stop calling me that, and of course I do. But that will happen soon enough. Apologize properly or get out.”

The ship bucked and Rowan grabbed the candle holder before it slid to the deck. It gave him time to collect his temper, lest he say something he would regret. Still, anger seethed from his tone when he said, “For what offense? Saving you from ravishment, from being crushed to death by snake, or from a French prison?”

“For being rude and trying to bully me into interpreting your silly map.”

He growled. “A spoiled little chit, aren’t you?”

“You could use some lessons on how to apologize.”

“A million pardons, Lady Minx, if I have offended you.” That was as good an apology as she was going to get. He’d come here merely to watch her sleep, to ponder what Nick had told him, but the woman had a knack for pricking his ire.

She finally moved to the edge of the cot and swung her feet over the side. Candlelight flickered over features tainted with both fear and fatigue. She looked so thin, so frightfully thin, that his anger fled him.

“Edith informs me you haven’t been eating.”

“I told you I’m sick.”

“Hmm. Very well, I shall gladly take you home if you would but tell me where home is.”

She huffed. “San Diego, as you well know.”

Rowan had searched his maps and found only one reference to a San Diego Bay, but that could hardly be the place to which she referred. “This San Diego borders the Mal del Sur?”

“The what?”

“The South Sea.”

She merely stared at him.

“Nevertheless,” he continued, “’tis Spanish territory and you are clearly no papist.”

She seemed to sink into the mattress. “I am so tired of all this pretense, Rowan. Can we please stop?”

Now, guess what Rowan's response is:

A. “I am trying to stop this madness,” he ground out. “If you would but cooperate.”
B.  Rowan leaned forward and reached for her hand.  "Very well, I will make every effort to annoy you no further."
C.  "And I am quite tired of your disrespect!" He stood and headed for the door. "You'll stay locked up another three days."
D.  Was the lady mad? Tears filled Rowan's eyes at the thought. "I offer my sincere apology, Lady Minx."


Leave your answer in a comment along with your email and I will choose a winner next Friday!

Thanks for playing and have a great weekend!



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