A Writer's Life....Caroline Clemmons: Karen Tjebben

Showing posts with label Karen Tjebben. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

LAUREL'S SAFE HARBOR

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Laurel's Safe Harbor

The Flowers of Avenel Book 4
By
Karen Tjebben

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: March 20, 2020

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Five years ago, April Copeland died so that Laurel Hansen could be born. Escaping from the Callahan brothers hadn’t been easy, but she did it for her unborn daughter, Kara. Now, living in the quiet beach town of Avenel, Laurel feels safe. She’s built a life for herself and Kara. She may even open her heart to a man again, but feeling safe and being safe are two very different things.

Dalton Motley is the kind of guy ladies throw themselves at, which makes Laurel’s disinterest in him more attractive. They’d met once. He’d even been a sort of knight in shining armor to her. So, when she doesn’t recall his name, a seed of disappointment wriggles into his soul, but it’s not there for long. Her delightful laugh thrums gently over his heart and snatches the disappointment before it can take root. Between the joy in her eyes and the feminine timbre of her voice, he’s a goner. It didn’t matter that she didn’t recall his name. He was going to break down the walls she’d built around her heart.

Liam Callahan is an alpha-male who demands respect wherever he goes. He runs two successful businesses: one legal, the other not. During a trip down the coast, Fate smiles upon him. In an accidental meeting, he brushes hands with a young woman. When their gazes connect, her eyes grow big with revulsion. A hint of recognition blooms in Liam’s memory. The tone and cadence of her words spoken in fear make his heart beat a little faster. Was she the one who got away?

A nervous tension coiled in Laurel’s gut when she spotted the lone man along the beach. Who was he? Was he following them?

“What do you think?” Dalton asked.

She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head in embarrassment. “What did you ask me?”

Dalton didn’t like the way tension wrinkled the skinned around her eyes or how she tightened her lips. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

She shook her head and uttered a weak, “Nothing.”

“I don’t buy that. Really, what’s wrong?” He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. “You can trust me.”

His words tugged at her heart. He wanted her to trust him, and from the way he kissed her, with such passion and gentleness, she knew that she could. How she felt that so confidently and so quickly should scare her. She’d trusted Rory and Liam. She’d closed her eyes to the red flags popping up around the Callahan brothers, but she couldn’t find a single yellow flag waving around Dalton.

Could she trust him? Her heart pounded a resounding yes, and surprisingly, her brain acknowledged the truth. If she ever wanted something real with a man, she’d have to share her past.

“There’s someone from my past that I said goodbye to years ago. I didn’t think our paths would ever cross again.” She’d prayed that their paths would never cross, that she could live a normal existence without the fear of the brothers entering her life.

She gave a noncommittal shrug of a shoulder. “I saw someone today that reminded me of him. That’s all.” And that was all she was telling Dalton. No way would she get into the truth of who the Callahan brothers were. What they did for a living. The kind of men she was hiding from.

Guest Author Post

The Nurtured Lure of Romantic Suspense Novels

by Karen Tjebben

The love of literature is built in children’s early years. As toddlers, children pour over the pages, admiring pictures that capture their attention and ignite their imaginations. As children grow into adolescence, books are an easy way to build connections from one world or time to another. The magical pages transport children to different times and cultures. They get to swim with mermaids or travel through rough waters in rickety boats with explorers. There is no limit to the adventures children can enjoy through books.

And who doesn’t like a little romance? Without realizing it, our culture has provided literature with hints of romance to young children for centuries. Some of the timeless classics woo young girls with the delights of love and protection. As a child, what are some of your favorite stories? Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, or The Princess Bride? The underlying current of friendship and love cannot be denied, no matter how innocent and subtle. And you cannot forget the amazing effect Disney has on children. Disney is just now creating stronger, independent female characters who don’t wait to be rescued, but who slay their own villains and overcome their challenges.

Parents have used literature sprinkled with fear to teach their children about the dangers in the world around us. The Brothers Grimm wrote classics so troubling that they have been altered to soften the horror for children and lessen the nightmares that surely result. Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood taught the dangers of trusting strangers and making bad decisions. And for adolescents, the riveting true events portrayed in Number the Stars and Stella by Starlight frighten and inform young adolescents of the true evils that lurk around them. There’s an excitement and rush of adrenaline that suspense or horror books provide to the thrill seekers.

It’s no surprise that the romance genre is a billion-dollar industry. People have been conditioned to love happy endings and the occasional fright. So, the blending of romance with suspense delivers an incredible pull that keeps readers turning the pages long after lights out.

About the Author

Karen Tjebben lives in central North Carolina with her wonderful husband and twin daughters. She loves traveling the world. Whether it’s to the heights of Yosemite, the white sands of the Caribbean, or even Down Under, she’s always ready to pack a bag in search of inspiration. She enjoys creating worlds filled with unique characters that will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers.

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Wednesday, October 23, 2019

SENNA'S SECRET BY KAREN TJEBBEN

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Senna's Secret
The Flowers of Avenel Book 3
By
Karen Tjebben

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: October 12, 2019

Senna Lang knew that fairy tales didn’t come true. There was no prince desperately searching for her to rescue her from the humdrum monotony of life. And whenever her heart dared to hope that there was, she’d shut down that line of thought because it led to the dull, persistent pain centered in her heart. Most of the time she could ignore the ache, but sometimes she couldn’t help but wonder what her life could have been if she hadn’t screwed everything up with Josh ten years ago. Would they be living in a two-story bungalow with water views and wrap around porches on the idyllic town of Avenel? Would they have a couple of kids and a rambunctious but friendly dog?

Regardless of her hopes or fears, returning to Avenel would thrust her into Josh’s realm. He was her first, and she still wasn’t over him. Even though he didn’t know it, she carried a secret from their past that could change their lives forever.

Josh Turner couldn’t believe his eyes. He’d heard Senna was coming back, but he hadn’t known when. But when their paths crossed, the curves of her body took him on a slow trip through memory lane. She’d been his first love and his first heartbreak. After high school, she’d ghosted him and cut him out of her life as if he was a cancerous tumor to be tossed aside. He’d been heartbroken and angry, but as the years passed, his anger cooled to indifference, but being in her presence again unleashed a swell of emotions that he hadn’t expected. All their ‘firsts’ crashed through him like a tsunami and destroyed the barriers he’d erected around his heart. He’d thought he was over her. He wasn’t.

Everyone has secrets, but some secrets are too heavy to bear alone. Those need to be shared.

Coming to the end of an aisle, she made the turn too quickly and the front of her cart clanked into the cart of another shopper headed her way. She startled as the carts hit. The impact reverberated up her arms. She grit her teeth in automatic response to the discomfort. Embarrassed, her gaze darted to the driver of the other cart as she tugged out her earbuds.

Josh Turner.

Her world slowed and time stopped. She recognized the man’s face instantly even though it had been a decade since she’d seen him. Where his face had been smooth and unlined in high school, fine wrinkles now etched the area near his eyes as he smiled. And god, his smile turned her knees to jelly. She clutched the push bar of the grocery cart and tried to get her breathing under control.

She wasn’t ready to see him yet. She’d put zero effort into her looks before leaving the house.

Swallowing hard, she began, “Hey, Josh. It’s good to see you.” That was about all she could get out as her eyes took in his form. His six-foot stature had muscled up in his adult years. As a teen, he’d always been tall and lanky, but now he had the body of a man who could handle hard work. His skin was nicely bronzed, a common side-effect of living at the beach. His arms were defined and muscled too. Just resting an arm on the cart had one bicep on display as it propped up his weight. Firm calves and strong thighs made her mouth go dry. She knew he had a job that required physical labor. From the looks of his body, he had to be good at his job.

Damn, the boy had definitely grown into a man.

She wanted to run her hands through his wavy hair to see if it was as soft as it had been in high school. His sun-bleached, golden-brown tresses were just long enough on the sides to show the waves that transitioned to curls around his collar. And those hazel eyes of his were roving over her body, assessing how she’d changed over the past decade.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she organized her thoughts. This was terrible. A nightmare.

She knew their paths would cross eventually. She just hadn’t expected it to be today. Her hair was a mess, and she hadn’t even brushed her teeth.

God, she couldn’t believe that this was how she looked for their first meeting, or more accurately, their first run-in. She wanted to disappear behind the mountain of soda boxes in the middle of the aisle.

Josh couldn’t believe his eyes. He’d heard she was coming back, but he hadn’t known when. And here she was. Her honey-blonde hair was piled into a bun with random strands sticking out in all directions. The curves of her body took him on a slow trip through memory lane. She’d been his first. They’d explored each other’s bodies as seniors in high school. Damn, he’d worshipped her back then, the soft give of her breasts and the immense pleasure as she toyed with his cock had consumed him.

Now they were adults. Her breasts were fuller than they’d been in high school. Her once perky breasts were cradled in her tight tank top and considerable cleavage peeked out. They’d easily fill his hands now. Her waist narrowed, but then her hips flared out, almost screaming that their role was to give him something to hold onto while they made love. And the tight little yoga shorts molded to the curves of her ass. Damn, his dick had a great memory and perked up at the sight of her.

“Hi, Senna,” he began. “I heard you were coming back to the island. It’s good to see you.” Things had ended abruptly between them after graduation. He didn’t know what had happened, but she’d suddenly cut him off. He’d reached out to her, but she didn’t return his calls or texts.

Her avoidance and indifference towards him had messed with his head and gave him a general distrust of women. She’d taught him that things could be wonderful one day and hell the next. It had taken him years to realize that not every woman was a selfish siren who would toss him aside when she was finished with him. After a few months of silence, he acknowledged her total rejection and left her alone. He’d finally decided to save face and pretend she didn’t exist.

It was no surprise that things felt awkward now. At the time, he figured she’d moved on from him and found another guy in California. Her silence had angered him. The powerlessness to get her to acknowledge him through text or phone call had damaged him to the core. He’d debated flying out to California and confronting her, but he’d decided to avoid that humiliation. She didn’t want him, and he wasn’t going to beg.

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Monday, June 10, 2019

DAHLIA'S DELIGHTS and WESTERN SONG and A SALE and GIVEAWAYS!

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The Flowers of Avenel book 2

DAHLIA’S DELIGHTS

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: June 8, 2019

Dahlia Collins had sworn that she’d escape the sandy beaches of her little hometown of Avenel on The Hidden Banks Islands. She’d dreamt big for herself, craving the adventure and success that could only be found in a big city. But life in the big city turned tumultuous, and the overwhelming swells of betrayal and financial struggle carried her back home to Avenel. Taking over Dahlia’s Delights Bakery should have been easy for her, except it wasn’t. Someone was sabotaging her business. She prayed that with the help of a handsome police officer, she would save her bakery.

Mark Lane was a simple man with simple needs. He had his health and a successful career as the police lieutenant on a beautiful island off the coast of North Carolina. That was all he needed, or thought he needed, until he walked into Dahlia’s Delights. When he saw her, his brain whirled with surprise. The young teen he’d last laid eyes on a decade ago was now a grown beauty. His heart double-tapped. His blood heated and strummed through his veins faster than normal. Gone was the girl he’d teased in his youth. Instead, an auburn-haired beauty with emerald eyes robbed him of rational thought.

When Dahlia shares her concerns about the bakery with Mark, and he promises to help her, all the feelings she’d had for him rushed through her again. Her heart palpitated, desire cloaked her, and she was thirteen again. Falling in love with him would be so easy. Hell, she was already halfway there.

As Mark stepped towards the counter, his brain whirled with surprise. Why he was surprised he wasn’t sure. He’d walked into Dahlia’s Delights, so it made sense to see Dahlia in her store. Maybe the surprise was his body’s reaction to her. His heart double-tapped, and his blood coursed quickly through his veins.

She’d grown up.

The little girl he’d teased in his youth was gone, and an attractive woman stood in her place. There was no denying the beauty before him was Dahlia. Her auburn hair was piled in a messy bun atop her head. A few stray wisps had slipped out of place and framed her creamy, pale skin. And those emerald eyes robbed him of rational thought.

Licking her lips, she tried to get moisture back into her mouth so she could speak. “Mark Lang?” she managed. “Wow, it’s been forever.” And just like that, her crush was back. Her pulse picked up speed, nerves danced a staccato in her belly, and a flash of heat swept over her.

His lips slid into a smile as he stepped up to the counter. “Dahlia Collins.”

The smooth, drawn-out sound of her name falling from his lips sent a wave of goose bumps over her. She prayed that he’d say something else, just so she could revel in the deep timbre of his voice.

“I heard you were back,” he continued. “I’d ask what you’ve been up to, but it’s obvious that you’re following in your parent’s footsteps.”

“Yes, yes,” she tilted her head in reply and did her best to control her racing heart. “The oven mitt didn’t fall far from the oven.” God, had she literally said that?

He breathed out a laugh and appreciated the pink flush that washed over her face. “I guess not. You’re working for your parents.”

“No,” she stated adamantly. “I bought the business. It’s mine now.” Hers to flourish or destroy. And why it mattered to her that he knew she owned it she didn’t know.

That’s not true. She did know. She wasn’t an awkward teen anymore. She wanted him to see her as a successful business woman. Someone with confidence and abilities that set her apart from the rest of her peers.

About the Author

Karen Tjebben lives in central North Carolina with her wonderful husband, twin daughters, two hamsters, four guinea pigs, an axolotl, and a school of various fish. When her girls left for kindergarten, Karen discovered that she needed to fill her days with something, and that was the beginning of her writing career. She loves to create worlds filled with unique characters that will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and seeing the world through her daughters’ eyes.

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AND

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Western Song

by
Leigh Podgorski

Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

Readers' Favorite Book Award Winner Bronze 2018

Contemporary Western Love Story about a bull riding rancher and his deceased best
buddy's Thai immigrant mail order bride. As she discovers the power
of freedom, he discovers he's lost his heart.

When Weston Beaudurant’s buddy, rodeo clown Cody Goode is killed in a
rodeo accident -- gored by the maniacal bull Baby Face that Weston is
riding, Weston is consumed with guilt. The day after the accident,
while going through Cod’s papers, lawyer Wynona Vasquez discovers
that he had been secretly engaged to a Thai immigrant who is arriving
by train that evening.

Elected by unanimous decision to be the welcoming committee, Weston arrives
at the train station prepared for anything but the lovely forlorn
creature he finds waiting in the rain. Though appearing waif-like,
Song Phan-Rang is anything but fragile. Her mettle quickly rises to
the surface in her determination to remain in Y-oh-ming.

Forced together by their circumstances, Weston and Song are explosive. Used
to solitude, Weston is driven crazy by the obliging Song. But as Song
shows her prowess not only as a housekeeper and cook, but as a rider
and rancher as well, Weston discovers that against his best efforts
(and damned if he'll ever admit it) -- he's falling in love.

By the time they bedded the horses at the corral, Song was shivering uncontrollably. The last half mile walk to the ranch house felt more like ten. He’d wrapped her in some blankets from the bunk house, but nothing was penetrating; she was chilled to the bone.

At the Snowy Moon ranch house, Weston helped her inside to the Great Room, settling her on the long leather couch. He laid a fire, and once lit, its warmth filled the room. He gathered the throw blankets that were tossed about the room and towels from the side bathroom.

“We have to get you out of your wet clothes,” he told her. Kneeling before her, he gently removed the blankets and his sheepskin jacket. She was still shivering so hard her teeth were chattering.

“I’m okay, Weston.”

“Okay, huh?” He slipped her sweatshirt off over her head. “Maybe okay for a penguin.” She smiled, though her smile jumped crookedly with the clattering of her teeth. “That was pretty crazy. What you did.”

“During the war, My Uncle Thieu lost everything in Vietnam. He had to sell his farm and move away. Thieu, my grandmother Hai Yen. He made some money on that sale, but did not make what it was worth because the people who bought his farm knew they could cheat him. When he got to Thailand, everybody had to work very hard to build everything up again. But especially Hai Yen because Thieu always told her it was her fault they had to leave.”

Weston took hold of her delicate hands, grasping them between his own and gently rubbing them to warm them. “Why?”

“My mother was nguoi My con gai, half white; she was the daughter of Hai Yen and an American soldier.”

“What did that have to do with having to leave?”

“Nothing. It was the war that drove them out. But Thieu used the birth of my mother to demean and shame my grandmother. He was a very shrewd man. Because of her shame, my grandmother could not work hard enough for Thieu.”

“Did you work, too?”

“Oh, yes. From the time I was very small. Thieu taught me everything about farming. This is where I learned, for example, that each thing, every animal is very, very precious.”

Weston picked up a towel and began drying her hair. “You’re still shivering.”

“It is nothing. It will stop soon.”

He rose, walked to the bar and poured some Turkey 101. He brought the glass back and handed it to her. “Remember, sip slowly.”

She took the glass and sipped. “It is much better the second time.”

“Don’t you go gettin’ too used to that stuff.” He sat back down next to her. “That soldier…your…grandfather….he was from here.”

“Yes.”

“From Wyoming.”

“Yes.”

“That was the name I saw. Gustafson. Homer Gustafson.”

Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears. “I do not know…if he even is still alive…my grandmother is no longer living….and if he is…if he would have any desire to see me…”

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Leigh Podgorski’s stage plays have been produced in Los Angeles, New York
City and regionally. She had the privilege of interviewing Dr.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross for her one-act play Windstorm, which was
presented as part of the annual festival CelebrateWomen that Leigh
also co-produced. We Are Still Here, the story of Cahuilla Indian
elder Katherine Siva Saubel, was premiered at the Gene Autry Western
Heritage Museum as part of CelebrateWomen 2000. The play has been
presented throughout Southern California at college campuses,
Universities, and Indian Reservations and Casinos.

In addition to her plays, Leigh has penned several original

award-winning screenplays and several of her monologues have been
published through Meriwether Publishing, Ltd..

Leigh produced her first documentary, We Are Still Here, based on the play
in 2007, which she also wrote and directed. The film has screened at
the American Indian Film Festival, Sherman Indian Film Festival, Cal
State San Marcos Native American Film Festival, and the Talking Stick Film Festival.

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Wednesday, March 13, 2019

THE MAKING OF DAISY HART

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THE MAKING OF

DAISY HART

Karen Tjebben

Contemporary Romance

Date Published: March 2019

Cassie Bowmont had what it took to succeed, at least that’s what she told herself. Hoping a change of pace and new scenery would get her creative juices flowing, she rented a beach cottage in the small town of Avenel where she could dip her pen into the steamy depths of adult romance. She didn’t need or want any distractions to thwart her progress, but she hadn’t counted on Chris Walker. After deciding that he would be a great muse for the hero in her book, she realized that a summer fling with him was just what the Book Gods ordered.

When Chris Walker spotted the small car on the shoulder of the road, his hero complex kicked in. Unable to ignore a damsel in distress, he pulled over to be a knight in a Ford F-150. He stomped through the flooded road and convinced Cassie to follow him to safety. After a goodbye wave in the parking lot of a Piggly Wiggly, he figured he’d never see her again, but Fate had other plans. When their paths crossed once more, he paused long enough to notice the delight in her eyes, the playful smirk on her glossy lips, and the determination of her spirit. His heart stuttered. His brain flooded with need, and a crack penetrated the wall around his heart.

They knew the summer was all they’d have but falling for each other was inevitable. The pleasure of lust somehow transformed into the contentment of love. When a jilted lover returns and sabotages their relationship, they must decide if they will be prisoners to the past or sail into their future.

THE MAKING OF DAISY HART Excerpt

“Are you published?” Chris asked.
“Yes.” She nodded and added, “Self-published.”
“What genre?”
Pink heated her cheeks. She wasn’t about to tell him that she wrote romance and was considering erotica. She hadn’t decided yet. She read both, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to be an erotica writer. She wasn’t sure she had enough sexual experience or creativity to write a book that needed eight to ten sex scenes. She thought she could handle two or three at the most per book, which was what most of the romances she’d read had.
“I’m debating between writing contemporary romance or romantic suspense. You know, chick lit.” She did her best to make that sound boring and uninteresting.
“Chick lit,” he repeated. The corners of his mouth turned up. Was that code for mommy porn? His cock perked up at the news. What kind of naughty thoughts went through her mind? Damn, she was already hot, but that information made her down right volcanic. He’d have to get his hands on one of her books to check it out.
“You know, books you read at the beach, while waiting in line at the grocery store. Something with a Happily Ever After. Feel good books,” she added with a casual shrug. Then she cursed adding that last part.
His green eyes darkened with lust. Feel good books. He knew what that meant. Women all over America read books at night to ‘feel good’. Was she into that? Damn, his pants were getting tight in the crotch just thinking about the ways she could make him feel good.
She wanted to roll her eyes. Men were so predictable. They couldn’t help but think with their cocks. She should have known the man sitting across from her would be no different. He’d been a gentleman last night and had been polite so far, but the heat in his gaze betrayed the truth that his cock had taken over his brain once the conversation shifted to something that hinted at the notion of sexuality.
When would her bacon and eggs get here? She needed to finish this impromptu breakfast. She leaned closer to him and shook her head. “I don’t write about sex,” she stated matter-of-factly and a little annoyed.
It didn’t matter that she was going to write about sex. He didn’t need to know that was what she was considering. The way he looked at her suddenly made her feel dirty. Like she was some porn queen who’d fucked an entire town or a sports team. She wasn’t into group sex or even banging strangers. She liked to be wined and dined. She had high standards for men she’d be with romantically. But if the look he was giving her was typical for how men would approach her once they knew that she wrote romance, she’d have to come up with a pen name. It was becoming clear that keeping her writing persona separate from her true identity would be the best plan.
Chris leaned back in the booth and waved his hand as if wiping away dirty thoughts. “Of course not. I didn’t think you did.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Look, you don’t owe me an explanation. I love books. The only bad book is an unread book, right?” Hopefully that appeased her.
Thankfully the waitress set their plates on the table in front of them at that moment. Clearing his throat, he thanked the waitress and grabbed a piece of bacon and shoved it into his mouth before he said something stupid.
Cassie picked up her fork and jabbed the liquid center of her egg. The yolk spilled out and flowed over the egg white. Would everyone look at her like she was a weirdo if they knew what she wrote? Could she live with that?

About the Author

Karen Tjebben lives in central North Carolina with her wonderful husband, twin daughters, and two hamsters. When her girls left for kindergarten, Karen discovered that she needed to fill her days with something, and that was the beginning of her writing career. She loves to create worlds filled with unique characters that she hopes will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and seeing the world through her daughters' eyes.

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Friday, March 01, 2019

COVETED KISS!

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Coveted Kiss
Psychological Romantic/Suspense

By Karen Tjebben

Bella Chan is a good girl surrounded by alpha-males who aren’t afraid of danger. Unfortunately, that danger comes back to bite her. She can still feel the deadly grip of Hazeem’s hands wrapped around her neck. If Jack hadn’t shown up at Savage Security, she’d be dead. Then, in pure alpha-male fashion, Jack appoints himself her personal bodyguard, but Bella soon realizes that Jack isn’t there to protect her. He’s there to win her heart.

And now, in the aftermath of the attack, the men of Savage Security band together to hunt down the terrorists living on American soil. As they navigate through the intrigue and deception that camouflages their assailants, they also confront the treason that threatens the Nation’s defenses.

COVETED KISS Excerpt

Jack’s hand on Bella’s knee zinged all kinds of emotions and feelings through her. Turning to face him, she bit her bottom lip and focused on the green hues in his eyes. She’d never gazed so uninhibitedly at his face before. Typically, he towered above her as he stood by her desk, or she gazed up at him from a few feet away as they made office banter. Would her feelings for him lessen once the threat was dealt with? Would things go back to normal? Would they become intimate? The thought heated her cheeks.

She pressed her hand to his and brushed her fingertips over his skin. He had the hands of someone who worked hard. His nails were short and stained along the edges from the different materials he worked with. Even now, staring at his toughened skin, she didn’t see imperfection. She saw strength, reliability, and adaptability.

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Monday, September 10, 2018

GRACE'S KISS

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GRACE'S KISS

Romantic Suspense/Psychological Thriller
By
Karen Tjebben

Date Published: September 2018

Grace followed the rules. She always played it safe and never put her heart in jeopardy. Until the night she met Ryan. She’d never imagined that she could connect with an alpha male like him. Giving herself to him as he'd cradled her in his arms came naturally... until she sobered up. He was everything that she’d convinced herself she didn’t need. Or was he everything she needed?

Ryan balanced on a thin line of gray. He’d killed his share of demons but managed to live at peace with his actions. Then he met Grace, a woman who pushed all his buttons and shook him to his core. The need to have her overwhelmed him, but she kept shooting him down. Could he convince her that he was exactly what she needed?

GRACE'S KISS Excerpt:

Turning his torso so that he faced her, he asked, “May I kiss you?” Normally, he didn’t formally ask a woman for permission to kiss her. He just went by the feel of the moment. But Grace was skittish, and he didn’t want to rush her.

She knew they’d kissed on the dance floor. Heck, she’d rubbed her body against his in a shameful way as she’d groped him. But the way he asked her to kiss him, like he respected her, warmed her heart. With nerves whirring through her, she nodded and said, “Yes.”

The soft, whisper reply warmed Ryan’s heart in a way he hadn’t expected. He wanted to pound his chest in a proud display of masculinity. She was giving him her trust, putting herself out there for him, and he appreciated that honor.

Ryan leaned towards her, looking for any hesitation or concern on her part, but there was none. The trust and innocence in her expression stirred a desire in him that he hadn’t felt before. He’d experienced passion in a sexual sense, but now a different type of passion heated him. This passion didn’t radiate from his cock. It wasn’t lust based. This passion radiated from his heart and mind and flooded his body. Grace didn’t casually give herself to men, so her affections were so much more valuable than she even realized. He liked that purity. He could see himself with her in a long-term relationship.

As he pressed a hand against her cheek, his thumb brushed over her lips. Her heart fluttered at the tender caress. She quickly licked her lips in anticipation and then felt his lips against hers. Heat washed over her that nothing to do with the hot, humid evening of a summer in the South. This was a heat that was stirred through passion and went right to her core.

She wanted more of him, tracing the seam of his lips with her tongue, she urged him to take the kiss further. He didn’t disappoint. The little boat rocked as he repositioned his body for a better angle to continue the kiss. His tongue slipped into her mouth and caressed hers in an erotic dance. Her girl parts woke up and moistened. The ease and pleasure of his kiss assured her that sex with him would be equally pleasurable. Where had that thought come from? They wouldn’t be having sex anytime soon, despite the need surging through her body.

When he pulled away, he’d left her panting and with a pulsing need between her legs that Daniel had never stirred up. She adjusted in her seat, wishing she could beg him for another kiss. Did he feel the same desire in his own body?

“I like you, Grace,” he said. He wanted to kiss her again. Hell, he wanted to take her back to his place and make love to her, but he knew that would be rushing her. If Daniel was telling the truth, and she’d only had sex with him, then she wasn’t the type to have sex after a first date. That was okay with him.

He knew they’d have more dates, and she’d eventually have sex with him after one of them. He only needed to wait her out.

About the Author

Karen Tjebben lives in central North Carolina with her wonderful husband, twin daughters, and two hamsters. When her girls left for kindergarten, Karen discovered that she needed to fill her days with something, and that was the beginning of her new career in writing. She loves to create worlds filled with unique characters that she hopes will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and seeing the world through her daughters' eyes.

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Friday, March 09, 2018

PSYCHOLOGICAL ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Psychological Romantic/Suspense

Date Published: December 2017

A sociopath is on the hunt…

Bret Silva’s handsome face is plastered all over town on placards praising his success. But neither his eyes nor his friendly smile betray the dark beast that lurks within. A beast that requires sacrifices. But one mistake endangers Bret’s survival.

When the men from Savage Security discover a damning photo, they realize that someone has mastered the art of the perfect murder. As their hunt begins, Cole Savage must reconcile his desire for justice with the burning ache in his heart for Julia Romero. Enlisting her help as a realtor, they work together to find a new home for Savage Security while the hunt for the killer continues. As the men discover more victims, they piece together the clues and realize that one of their own may be in the sights of a ruthless killer.

STOLEN KISS Excerpt:

The siren call of nature flit delightfully through the crisp breeze and reminded Bret Silva why he loved this time of year. The warm days teased of an early spring, but he knew that winter could return with a vengeance at any time. But for now, he’d enjoy the fluttering of the birds as they danced from tree to tree with delight. The bright males puffed out their chests and sang their arias to pique a lover’s attention. The squirrels and chipmunks skittered through the park, chasing each other in a timeless dance through the ground cover until the females succumbed to the males’ charms.

Strength contrasted with weakness. Dominance blended with submission. The time-honored ritual that ensured the survival of life played out before him.

Bret had mastered his own ritual. The hunt.

Life had somehow transformed him into a predator. He wasn’t a pervert, but he did need to quell the nightmares that haunted him. Some nights he’d wake in a cold sweat, his heart pounding and horrible memories burning his eyes. It was those nights that propelled him into action. And so far, the only way he’d been able to achieve peace was by surrounding himself with beauty.

He never knew when he’d meet that perfect woman who’d ignite an overwhelming need in him to possess her. Sometimes the need was triggered by her mesmerizing eyes or the perfection of her curves. Sometimes even the brilliance of her mind. It didn’t matter what initiated the hunt. It only mattered that he finished it.

About the Author

Karen Tjebben lives in central North Carolina with her wonderful husband, twin daughters, and two hamsters. When her girls left for kindergarten, Karen discovered that she needed to fill her days with something, and that was the beginning of her writing career. She loves to create worlds filled with unique characters that she hopes will delight and raise goose bumps on her readers. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and seeing the world through her daughters' eyes.

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