“Irreverent.” “Funny.” “Essential.” Award winning.

Read this book before you publish your book.

You just wrote your first book. And there you are. Stark naked. Vulnerable. Wondering what to do next to get your masterpiece published.

This is the one book you need to read and follow if you’re writing a book for the first time. Why? Because you’ve never written a book before. This is new territory.

To write a successful book, you need to find and work with an editor who shares your passion for your work and your message and who will help you make your book sing. And sing a smash hit. A blockbuster of a message, clearly and carefully constructed so readers love you and your work and leave you five-star Amazon reviews only because they don’t have more stars to give.

This is a toolkit for tinkering under the hood of your working manuscript so you, the author, can take your work as far as you can before an edit and production such as cover design and not dump a half-baked chocolate cake on some poor schlub of an editor to “fix.”

Don’t make first-time author mistakes. No matter what you think, you do need an edit. Not from the English teacher next door. You can’t self-edit either. A professional editor knows how to navigate those thorny commas and can solve your organizational questions. An editor can guide you through the murky waters of modifiers and passive sentences, correct typos, and get your book manuscript polished and on its way to production.

Even if you slept through English class, never turned in book reports, and don’t know a thing about publishing the book of your dreams, your name is on the cover and you don’t want to be embarrassed. Turn your vulnerability into confidence with these insider secrets to publishing success when working with an editor.

No, this is not a grammar book (ick) or a guide to self-editing (can’t be done well). This is not a dry, boring book about usage or sentence structure.

Although the author, a veteran nonfiction editor, specializes in memoir, true crime, business/leadership, and self-help, her advice holds true for fiction writers as well.

Get your questions answered (and more):

• Why do I need an editor? How do I find an editor? What do editors do? And how much do they cost?
• What are the levels of edit? Developmental? Line edit? Copy edit? Proofreading? How do I know what level of editing my manuscript needs?
• Will an editor tell me if my manuscript sucks?
• Why do words make a difference? Which words do I overuse? Which words should I never use?
• How do I know when I’m done writing?
• How can I work with a cover designer and audiobook engineer?
• Can my local bookstore help me? Do I need beta readers?

BONUS: Checklist for Authors to Fine-Tune a Manuscript before Editing Begins

BUY a copy today, because you need to know these insider secrets to happily work with an editor on your way to publishing success.

The first fall of snow can be fatal…

A year has passed since DI James Walker cracked his biggest case yet, and he’s hoping for peace and quiet this festive season.

But across the fells, a local farmer returns home on Christmas Eve to find footsteps in the fresh snow that lead down to his unused basement – and no footsteps leading away. Days later, his body is found, alongside those of his wife and daughter.

Without a neighbour for miles, there are no witnesses and little evidence. And the crime scene has strange echoes of another terrible murder committed at the farmhouse, twenty years earlier…
 
James knows that to catch this killer, he needs to solve a case that has long since gone cold…

Perfect for fans of smash-hit TV series Whitehouse Farm, Simon McCleave’s The Snowdonia Killings and Catherine Cooper’s The Chalet.

Readers love The Killer in the Snow:

‘I loved this book! It is dark, gritty and thrilling … It is fast-paced and has you hooked from the first few pages. I devoured this book in two sittings.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐     

‘Dang! Now this was one heck of a story! If you want suspense, thrills and chills, then this is your book!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A chilling page turner’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐     

‘WOW! This book had me hooked from the first page, I didn’t want to put it down and this was one of the twistiest and most complicated murder cases I’ve ever read about.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐    

‘Another fantastic book from Alex Pine!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
 
‘I loved this book and enjoyed every minute of it. There were so many twists, turns and surprises on just about every page.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐     

‘DI James Walker is fast becoming a favourite of mine along with Alex Pine being one of my top authors.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Your son’s invisible friend is not imaginary.

Kate’s little boy has a new buddy, one even he can’t see. Can’t hear. Can’t feel. Yet, it’s feeding him information about the world. And about the future.

He is using this thing, this undetectable entity, to advance at school. And to help Kate gamble.

Despite her addiction.

But, for every morsel of knowledge, his friend demands a favor in return. And those favors are growing increasingly cruel and depraved.

It is only a matter of time until people must die.

How can Kate defeat an entity that knows her plans before she thinks of them?

How does she rid her son of a buddy who helps him more than she can?

And what if her son doesn’t want to say goodbye?

Best Buddies is a phenomenal debut horror novel in the supernatural suspense tradition of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and the late, great James Herbert.

For a paranormal mystery with a psychic entity that may tear apart a single mother and her young son, grab your copy of Best Buddies today.

Honorable Profession: A Novel of American Politics is a compelling, hopeful story of a cynical former Secret Service agent and his idealistic daughter as they follow a longshot candidate into the perilous arena of presidential politics.

After resigning from his agency under an ethical cloud, 46-year-old Dan Cahill commits himself to rebuilding his relationship with Megan, the college-aged daughter in Las Vegas he has long neglected. She persuades a reluctant Cahill to join the student-led campaign of a popular professor competing in the Nevada presidential primary against impossible odds. As they face powerful forces conspiring to clear the field, Cahill's deep-seated disdain for electoral politics collides with Megan's higher ideals. Each of their faiths are tested by political allies and adversaries, all desperate for victory, no matter the costs.

Crafted by award-winning author Andy Kutler, Honorable Profession is an absorbing, modern-day political drama filled with authentic and indelible characters, each struggling with their own loyalties and principles as they duel with unscrupulous rivals and the meaning of public service.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Something hasn’t been right at the roadside Sun Down Motel for a very long time, and Carly Kirk is about to find out why in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

Upstate New York, 1982. Viv Delaney wants to move to New York City, and to help pay for it she takes a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. But something isnʼt right at the motel, something haunting and scary.

Upstate New York, 2017. Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before she was born. She decides to move to Fell and visit the motel, where she quickly learns that nothing has changed since 1982. And she soon finds herself ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed her aunt.

If Buffy owned a dragon...

Over 1600+ pages of magic and mayhem, action and humor fill this snarky urban fantasy boxed set.


"They say revenge is best served cold...

Personally, I like mine served with a side of dragon fire."


All I ever wanted was to be an acrobat in the circus. Then my family was killed by vampires and plans changed.

I became a vigilante, instead.

I still perform. My dragon, Percy, and I take to the skies in the greatest show you've ever seen.

Seeing this sassy Kansas girl cracking whips on the back of a dragon sure does draw in a crowd. Not that I allow their adulations (and tips) stop me from seeking what I truly crave. Vengeance.

We’ve hunted down the murderous vampires to New Orleans.

Seems they’ve been up to horrible things since killing my parents... and if I don't stop them, no one will.

Time to set the vamps' world on fire.


If you ever wanted to know Buffy the Vampire Slayer would have been like if she owned a dragon, then Setting Fires with Dragons will blow you away.

"Mythology, satire, and brutal honesty. Vance delivers a knockout punch of fun and fearlessness in every last one of his books. Not only does he make you laugh, he makes you think. That's a rare combination that few authors ever achieve, and Vance does it splendidly." — John P. Logsdon, author of the Paranormal Police Department series.


What Amazon readers are saying:

★★★★★ ‘Urban Fantasy at its best.’

★★★★★ ‘Irritatingly unputdownable.’

★★★★★ ‘Refreshing in its uniqueness.’

★★★★★ ‘Boy was this long overdue! I was just whining to my husband about how everyone seems to be working from the same book outline when this little gem popped up.’

★★★★★ ‘Great world building.’

★★★★★ ‘Really enjoyable story. I went directly to Book 2.’

★★★★★ ‘Genuine giggles on every page.’

★★★★★ ‘Oh I needed that ... Something different.’

★★★★★ ‘Ex-vampires, avatars, fae, and humans just trying to get along … Make time to sit down and read through in one sitting.’

Once Upon a hallowed eve...
Halloween, the day where the veil between the normal and the paranormal is as thin as a whisker on a witch's chin...

Twenty-three original cozy mysteries cook up tales of fun, mayhem, and murder!

With a sprinkle of seniors with sharp minds and smart mouths, a dash of witches with familiars and more sass than sense, and a pinch of whodunits in quaint little towns.

Once Upon a Halloween has your next favorite author. Who will it be?

Nearly Departed by Patti Larsen
A String of Perils by Penelope Cress
The Clown, The Witch & The Cat by Steven Higgs
Witch’s First Zombie by Valia Lind
Costumes & Cadavers by Katherine H. Brown
Aos si by Tommy Ueland
Pumpkins and Premonitions by Martina Dalton
Bait and Click by Kari Ganske
Candy Korn Killer by Brittany E. Brinegar
A Witchy Spookfest by Rhonda Hopkins
Sweet Scary Deal by Judith A. Barrett
The Black Rose by Louise R. Innes
Murder and the Showgirl by Lynda Brunelle
Murder at the Pawstume Party: A Pupcakes and Pawtries Cozy Mystery by Daphne McLean
Halloween Cat Crimes by Julia Koty
Tea is for Tricks by Karen Sue Walker
Take Your Pixie by Willow Mason
A Shaman's Samhain by Belinda White
Scandal at Samhain by Carly Reid
The Mystery of Alice by K.E. O'Connor
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow-Point by Linda M. Au
Hunting Witches by Annie Whittaker
Halloween Hoedowns Can Be Deadly by Ryan Rivers

Welcome to Rockford Falls with its small town charm and smoking hot men. Snuggle up and enjoy these five sexy alphas and the women that steal their hearts. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Book One: Hot Cop

Laura’s a big city cop, home to take care of her dad.
She’s my best friend’s baby sister AKA forbidden territory.
All grown up.
Lush curves.
Smart mouth.
Everything I can’t resist.
Whatever I have to do,
I’m going to keep her reckless, gorgeous ass safe.
Then I’ll never let her go.

Book Two: My Fake Husband

Our close quarters are combustible.
Flirting turns sexy.
I’ve got a bad crush on my wife.
Danger lights the fuse that smolders between us.
Fake married friends with benefits?
You could say it’s complicated.
So what happens when you really fall in love?
All I know is that I’m keeping her for good.

Book Three: The Lumberjack’s Nanny

It’s a perfect deal:
1. Follow his (overprotective) rules.
2. Take good care of Sadie.
3. Walk away at the end of the summer.
No problem!
Right?
There’s a big problem.
I caught feelings for Max, the sexy lumberjack dad.
Flirting turned into a secret affair.
Now I’m carrying around more than a broken heart. I have a little secret that’s Max’s and mine.

Book Four: I Hate You

We hate each other, but I can’t keep my hands off her.
She’s mouthy, infuriating, and smoking hot.
This job is nothing but trouble.
And it’s about to get so much worse.
Dangerous sabotage at the site puts Nicole’s life in danger.
I’ll do anything to keep her safe.
Especially when I find out she’s not the only one I’m fighting for.
This hard-core bachelor is about to get everything I never knew I wanted.

Book Five: Falling in Love Again

A bad storm leaves us stranded together.
Who knew that a rekindled romance from high school.
Could end up as what I want for the rest of my life?

But now she’s the one pushing me away.
She won’t talk to me.
She doesn’t trust me.
It’s like losing her all over again.
This time, I won’t run away.
This time I’m fighting for what’s always been mine.

The Rockford Falls Romance is a collection of FIVE scandalous standalone romance novels. Each one guarantees no cliffhangers or cheating, so you can enjoy every word to its maximum pleasure. To top it off, a unique HEA to make your heart swell. Enjoy reading! - Natasha L. Black

Sizzling romance, dangerous shifters and action-packed adventure with a guaranteed happily ever after. Get the first three books in the Shifter Suspense series now!

Shifters have always lived secretly alongside normal humans - but some secrets have been hidden even from shifters themselves. Until now.

Panther's Promise
Grant Diaz promised himself long ago that he would fight his inner panther's dangerous instincts. He thinks he's succeeded - until he meets Irina. She's human, curvy, wonderful... and his mate. When strange forces steal Irina away, Grant must trust his panther's instincts to save her life - even if giving in to his panther's wild nature means she will be lost to him forever.

Saved by the Billionaire Lion Shifter
The moment a shifter meets his mate should be the most precious of his life. For lion shifter Mathis, it might be what ends his. Human Chloe is the missing piece of his heart - and the most dangerous shifter he's ever met knows it. Held captive by a shifter psychopath, on an island guarded by a dragon with powers beyond anything they've ever encountered, Mathis and Chloe must fight for their lives if their love is ever to have a chance.

Stealing the Snow Leopard's Heart
Ex-thief Keeley doesn't believe in magic. But when she finds a strange crystal that hatches into a tiny, adorable baby dragon and the most gorgeous man she's ever met saves her from magical attackers, her worldview takes a sharp turn. She'll do anything to protect the baby dragon and the man who makes her heart sing - but when her past catches up with her, all the magic in the world might not be enough to keep the three of them safe.

Three stories of romance, magic and heart-pounding adventure, featuring protective shifters and their fated mates they'll stop at nothing to keep safe. Buy now and start reading today!

IGNORE SPIRIT WHISPERS AT YOUR PERIL!
Psychic Jaime Sanders hears whispers that reveal a shocking curse.

In this suspenseful ghost tale, Jaime is desperate to save her younger sister’s life. While she fights to defeat a deadly curse and save her sister, an evil plot surfaces that targets her thirteen-year old daughter. Failure means the death of loved ones and a threat to the magical powers of her coven.

Spirit Whispers is a standalone adventure in the Natural Witches series. It's a complete story, without reading any of the other books.

He tasted like tequila and the fake name I gave him was Rose.

Four years ago, I decided to get over one man, by getting under another. A single night and nothing more.
I found my handsome stranger with a shot glass and charming but devilish smile at the end of the bar. The desire that hit his eyes the second they landed on me ignited a spark inside me, instant and hot. He was perfect and everything I didn’t know I needed. That one night may have ended, but I left with much more than a memory.
Four years later, and with a three-year-old in tow, the man I still dream about is staring at me from across the street in the town I grew up in. I don’t miss the flash of recognition, or the heat in his gaze.
The chemistry is still there, even after all these years.
I just hope the secrets and regrets don’t destroy our second chance before it’s even begun.

Two alpha dragon shifters are the only thing that stand between me and death.

My sheltered life ends when I find myself at the wrong place at the wrong time.
A robbery turns into my kidnapping.
What I saw will cost me my life once the two dragon shifters deliver me to their clan.
Only they don’t.
Bad guys don’t have a conscience.
But Harvey and Dax are different.
Instead of my death sentence, they become my protectors.
And soon my obsession.
Charming, funny Harvey melts my reservations.
Mysterious, unpredictable Dax ignites a fire within me.
Each is irresistible.
Together, they’re unstoppable.
Their strong arms hold me tight.
Their firm lips devour me.
Until I’m begging these older guys to take my innocence.
Take all of me.
Possess me.

When a dark secret comes to light, will our new love survive or will revenge tear us apart?

Bad Boy Dragons is a standalone paranormal romance with a HEA and NO cheating!

Quarter-Finalist Publishers Weekly/BookLife BEST FANTASY NOVEL 2021
PW Review
Plot: Mage’s Mountain is an adventure fantasy with plenty of main- and sub-plots, none of which are ever in danger of getting lost amid the action. Every sub-plot and character mystery enhances the story, very often tying into the main plot, deftly weaving a complex, wonderful tale.
Prose/Style: This novel is perfectly paced with beautiful, captivating prose that brings battles to life and beautifully paints the worlds both above and below the Mountain of the New Gods.
Originality: Main character Xen is tasked by his late mentor with finally uncovering the truth of Dragon Rift Canyon. Ancient mysteries are uncovered, the land itself is hostile and unstable, and deftly-crafted fantasy beings—ones which lie far outside the familiar, Tolkienesque roots of the genre—abound. The magic system is both complex and unique, a real treat for fans of the genre.
Character Development/Execution: Xen is an extremely powerful mage, but one whose abilities have rules and limits that sometimes lead to inconvenient to deadly outcomes when using magic in battle, and someone who cares deeply about his companions. The cast of supporting characters is a fascinating plethora of different genders and fantasy races—waspmen, dwarves, dragons, and many more—each of whom the overarching plot could not do without.
Blurb: A high fantasy full of adventure, creatures both frightening and wondrous, and ancient mysteries waiting to be discovered that will leave fans of the genre eagerly awaiting the second book in the Dragonscales Chronicles.
Score:

• Plot/Idea: 9
• Originality: 9
• Prose: 10
• Character/Execution: 9
• Overall: 9.25

Report Submitted: October 18, 2021

Description
A mystery lies at the bottom of the Dragon Rift Canyon. It’s something that has claimed the lives of wizards in decades past. Xen from the tower of wizards is sworn to uncover the mystery or die trying.
Xen’s band of adventurers, tireless dwarves, a young alchemist, and Joi, a fierce warrior-princess from the frozen northlands, move down the ancient crumbling stairs descending Dragon Rift wall.
They stand on the river banks three days later, observing an unusual flat boulder in the rushing water.
His exploration, unknown to Xen, will take him to the Mountain of the New Gods, where no one who dares climb its slopes ever returns.
But that is in the wizard’s future. Right now, he has to survive the test of the rock in Dragon Rift. A test no one has come through alive so far.
Written by the godfather of role-playing, and author of a number of best-selling fantasy books, James M. Ward and Steve Peek. Our beta readers consistently said, " one of the best fantasy books I've read in years."

"A naïve small-town girl and a disillusioned big-city cop, drawn together by an unsolved crime that is itself only the tip of the iceberg, The Memory Bell serves up the perfect steamy summer read." –Jenny Jaeckel, author of House of Rougeaux

Grace Penner's safe haven crumbles when a body is found outside of town. Gifted the memory bell, a family heirloom, from her grandfather's will, Grace's excitement is soon squashed when the bell gets broken right after she receives it. While gluing the pieces back in place, she discovers three are still missing.

Determined to find them, she is halted when the new detective, Bennet James, investigates her family. Grace is intent on showing the detective her family isn't capable of murder, but as the investigation deepens, and pieces of the bell show up with ominous notes, Grace soon realizes the Penners are not what they seem. Amidst the tightly knit family; dark secrets, deception, and possibly even murder unfold. Will Grace be able to save the family she loves more than anything without losing herself forever?

He either lives or dies, no more in between. The line can’t be straddled any further.

The Turners have been rocked by their oldest child’s spiraling depression and self-destructive behavior. It’s torn the family apart and drained their limited finances. When the psychiatrists have exhausted all treatment options with no success, they recommend an in-patient facility the Turners cannot afford. Life altering decisions must now be made.

How far will a parent go to save a child? At what cost to the rest of the family? How do you save someone who doesn’t want to be saved?

Karen Turner ignores the damage left from her son’s path and isolates everyone, including her two teenage daughters. She believes more money is the only solution. Larry works non-stop and sacrificed everything only to watch his son deteriorate further. With the Turners’ survival at stake, he takes an unthinkable and shocking approach to resolve their dilemma he may ultimately regret. And the family will never be the same.

My Job Expectations:
1. Help trauma victims gain confidence.
2. Teach workouts and fitness routines.
3. Help people believe they’re strong.

What Isn’t My Job:
1. Giving Jackie extra attention.
2. Finding every excuse to see her.
3. Thinking about her all the time.

She thinks this is her last chance for happiness.
Her PTSD has controlled her life for so long.
When she finally opens up to me, all I want to do is protect her.
But it’s against my moral code to get involved with a client.

Too bad for me, my heart is overriding my senses for the first time in my life.
I’ll help Jackie heal, and then I’ll convince her to stay.
To hell with the consequences.

A sudden windfall - and the money to make every dream come true...
With finances and marriage strained to the breaking point, Rose and Henry Ball dream of new lives filled with romance and adventure. Then Fortune takes a hand. Against all odds the couple win a record Powerball lottery. The sudden windfall is the answer to all their prayers. Or maybe not...

Helpless to resist the sirens' song, the Balls leap feet first into the intoxicating world of the super-rich. Henry drifts into treacherous waters on a mad Russian oligarch's yacht, while Rose throws caution to the wind and rushes headlong into the arms of a dangerous stranger. The Balls are in way over their heads by the time Fortune reveals her capricious nature.

The pleasures and perils of sudden wealth spring to vivid life in the rip-roaring POWERBALLS, where wealth and security are illusions - and only love endures.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JIMMY CLIFTON was reported lost at sea in the early morning hours of June 7, 2020. His crewmates on the fishing boat Miss Rosie Mae remember his prodigious capacity for rum and a gift for spinning yarns that helped captain and crew endure those tedious stretches on the open water. He left a loaded .45, an old photo from better times, and several manuscripts as the only clues to a life well lived.

But the tale doesn't end there.

The task of curating the Jimmy Clifton series and bringing this gifted writer's intriguing novels to light has been left to MICHAEL HAYES, Clifton's only known living kin. As a longtime ad man, Hayes shares Clifton's talents for weaving tall tales and stretching the truth.

This first one's called POWERBALLS. A cautionary tale if there ever was one about the perils of sudden wealth, and what the almighty dollar can do to a man's, or woman's, soul. In the immortal words of Jimmy Clifton: Be careful what you wish for.

We think you'll like it.

"A promising new literary voice." –Kirkus Reviews

For aspiring indie filmmaker Kevin Stacey, it's another day on the set of his first film, but when his estranged father, a failed Hollywood actor, arrives unexpectedly with a bundle of cash, a gun, and a stolen capuchin monkey, he's propelled toward the journey that will change his life.

The monkey, Henry, has been liberated from a research lab by animal rights activists. Inspired by his friend Veronica to reevaluate his relationship with other species, Kevin learns about the pain and suffering inflicted on lab animals as he forges a bond with the capuchin. When father and son embark on a road trip with Henry, Kevin is caught between the egocentric father who abandoned him and the temperamental monkey whose fate is in his hands. With both the FBI and his mother's ghost watching, will Kevin risk his career and his father's freedom to bring the stolen monkey to safety? Meanwhile, Veronica's encounter with an eccentric Catholic priest triggers her own journey toward change.

A heartbreaking yet comic family drama, A Better Heart examines the human-animal bond and the bonds between fathers and sons, challenging readers to explore their beliefs about the treatment of non-human species.

Bad Night Stand

The man had seemed so innocent in the bar—hot, hard, and possessing a butt that I wanted to bite like the last chocolate chip cookie in my stash.

Of course, he’d also skipped town, leaving me woefully unsatisfied. That was before the news of a failed IUD. Before the plus sign. Before Jordan showed back up determined to make that night up to me.

I didn’t want a baby or a payday or a sexy, stubborn man in my life. I wanted to go back in time and pretend none of it had happened.

Unfortunately, my life had become all about that plus sign . . . and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.

Bad Breakup

The first sign of trouble was the rough, masculine voice. The second was the Scottish accent. God, Cecelia loved Scottish accents. Colin McGregor was her every fantasy come to life. And Cecelia had been in love with him. Twice.

Then had her heart broken. Twice.

Well, the third time wasn’t the charm and CeCe wasn’t going to be stupid about Colin. Not again. Not now that she knew better.

But had anyone informed Colin of that fact?

Bad Husband

Heather O’Keith is the biggest, baddest female CEO around. Known for being tough as nails, fair to a fault, and a shark when it comes to securing contracts for her business, RoboTech, she’s also lonely.

Not that she would tell anyone else that . . . least of all one Clay Steele—sexy, smart, cold, and a man with a business acumen that both matches and sometimes surpasses her own.

But then Heather realizes that she may not be the only lonely one. The big lug who seems to enjoy tormenting her in the business world also has a soft side. And when that part of him is wholly directed at her, she gets stupid.

Stupid finds her waking up hungover and naked in Clay’s bed. With a giant diamond ring. On her left hand.

Oh lord, what has she done?

Bad Date: A Never Before Released Novella

Blind dates were the absolute worst.

Awkward, filled to the brim with small talk, and they never, ever worked out. Kay knew all that. Yet for some reason, she still had agreed to let Heather set her up.

Maybe it was because Heather O’Keith had rescued her when some idiot had dropped half a Venti Frappuccino on her laptop, saving her nearly-completed novel and befriending her in the process. Maybe Heather was just a force to be reckoned with. Or maybe, it was because Kay had serious pushover tendencies.

But when the date came, Kay found herself alone at a table for almost an hour before she called it quits. She’d been stood up. Yup, that was just perfect.

Her night was shot, she was behind on her word count, but then . . . she quite literally ran into tall, dark, and handsome outside the restaurant. One look at him and Kay thought that perhaps her night might be salvaged after all.

Until she discovered tall, dark, and handsome was a jerk. Until she discovered that jerk was her missing blind date—her rude and insufferable date who blew right by her as if she didn’t exist.

What. The. Hell?

Running away from home was never Chloe Kowalski’s plan. Neither was ending up the target of killers, or having her body change in unusual ways. She only wanted a vacation, someplace far from her crazy parents and their irrational fear of water. She only wanted to do something normal for once, and maybe get to know her best friend’s hot stepbrother a bit better at the same time.

But the first day she goes out on the ocean, strange things start to happen. Dangerous things that should be impossible. Things to which ‘normal’ doesn't even begin to apply.

Now madmen are hunting her. A mysterious guy with glowing blue eyes is following her. And her best friend’s stepbrother seems to be hiding secrets all his own.

It was supposed to be a vacation. It's turning out to be a whole lot more.