“Great action, well-told, and authentic with all the nuances and
spirit of small town Texas. Don’t miss it.” -Lone Star Literary Life
Reviews
In this enigmatic follow up to his critically acclaimed debut novel The
Cuts that Cure, Arthur Herbert returns to the Texas-Mexico border with this
chilling mystery set amidst a small town’s bloody loss of
innocence.
Amoret, Texas, 1982. Life along the border is harsh, but in a world where
cultures work together to carve a living from the desert landscape, Blaine
Beckett lives a life of isolation. A transplanted Boston intellectual, for
twenty years locals have viewed him as a snob, a misanthrope, an outsider.
He seems content to stand apart until one night when he vanishes into thin
air amid signs of foul play.
Noah Grady, the town doctor, is a charming and popular good ol’ boy.
He’s also a keeper of secrets, both the town’s and his own. He
watches from afar as the mystery of Blaine’s disappearance unravels
and rumors fly. Were the incipient cartels responsible? Was it a local with
a grudge? Or did Blaine himself orchestrate his own disappearance? Then the
unthinkable happens, and Noah begins to realize he’s considered a
suspect.
Paced like a lit fuse and full of dizzying plot twists, The Bones of Amoret
is a riveting whodunit that will keep you guessing all the way to its
shocking conclusion.
About the Author
Arthur Herbert was born and raised in small town Texas. He worked on
offshore oil rigs, as a bartender, a landscaper at a trailer park, and as a
social worker before going to medical school. For the last eighteen years,
he’s worked as a trauma and burn surgeon, operating on all ages of
injured patients. He continues to run a thriving practice in New Orleans
where he lives with his wife Amy and their dogs.
He waited long time for the man he drooled over. Then things that huge turn when the one he been running from has found him. Will use all his powers to protect his new family. Love the men D.O.A and their dragons and bond and antics
first book in this new world the author has created and they did not dispointed at all. The characters drew you in with all their signature quirks cant wait to see more from these characters
Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than fifty titles. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair. Besides writing, Cambria loves a pumpkin spice latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching K drama until her eyes won’t stay open. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chihuahuas (the real bosses of the house). Cambria has written in many genres, including new adult, sports romance, male/male romance, sci-fi, thriller, suspense, contemporary romance, and young adult. Many of her titles have been translated into foreign languages and have been the recipients of multiple awards.
Awards Cambria has received include:
Author of the Year 2016 (UtopiaCon2016)
The Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Series of 2015 (UtopiaCon 2015)
#Nerd: Best Contemporary Book Cover of 2015 (UtopiaCon 2015)
Romeo from the Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Lead (UtopiaCon 2015)
#Nerd: Top 50 Summer Reads (Buzzfeed.com 2015)
The Hashtag Series: Best Contemporary Series of 2016 (UtopiaCon 2016)
#NERD Book Trailer: Best Book Trailer of 2016 (UtopiaCon 2016)
#Nerd Book Trailer: Top 50 Most Cinematic Book Trailers of All Time (film-14.com)
#Nerd: Book Most Wanted to be Adapted to Screen: (2018)
Amnesia: Mystery Book of the Year (2018)
Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.
You can find out more about Cambria and her titles by visiting her website:
Rob Jeffers has it all: fame, money, and the life of a rock and roll star.
Frank Peters is a regular guy, a newspaper reporter who just happens to have
a passing acquaintance with the Great Jeffers. As Jeffers’s career shoots
up, Peters’s fortunes follow in his wake.
And when Jeffers passes away at the height of his fame, Peters’s life
begins a steady unravelling. Until a chance encounter on a minor story gives
him a new outlook on the celebrity lifestyle, and new hope for his own
future.
Excerpt
Off to my right, a slight, average-sized guy came running along. He was
wearing the pants and vest of a denim leisure suit, a garish, flowered
polyester/Hawaiian shirt with the first five buttons opened up and sandals.
Skidding to a stop in front of me, he looked about as confused as I felt at
the moment.
“’Scuse me,” he said, “is this the place for the
concert?”
I looked around at all the people flocking in our direction, listened to
the squealing of the collection of cuties on the other side of the
door.
“Yeah,” I said, “but good luck getting in. The place is
packed.”
“Really? Cool!” He took off his mirrored sunglasses, and for
the first time, I saw the eyes that, in years to come, would stare out from
a billion or so album covers.
“Hey,” he said, “you a student here?”
“Yeah, but…”
“You think you can show me how to get in? Like there’s a
service entrance or something, isn’t there? I’m with the band,
and I’m running late.”
I clenched up. One of the oldest con lines in the world is “I’m
with the band.” But something in the man’s look told me to take
a chance.
“I think I can get you in, but I need something in
return.”
“Yeah?” Now the “guy with the band” seemed uneasy.
“What’s that?”
“Well, you see,” I said, “I’m with the student
paper…”
About the Author
A high-school teacher, former college instructor, and fiction writer, Kevin
R. Doyle is the author of numerous short horror stories. He’s also
written three crime thrillers, The Group, When You Have to Go There, and And
the Devil Walks Away, and one horror novel, The Litter. In the last few
years, he’s begun working on the Sam Quinton private eye series,
published by Camel Press. The first Quinton book, Squatter’s Rights,
was nominated for the 2021 Shamus award for Best First PI Novel. The second
book, Heel Turn, was released in March of 2021, while the third in the
series, Double Frame, came out in March of 2022.
The peace they both crave they’ll find in each other.
Hidden Waters, an all-new emotional, roommates and friends to lovers, small-town romance from bestselling author Catherine Cowles is coming June 21st, and we have your first look!
Prologue
Addie
PAST
“Cecily!” My father’s voice bellowed through our ranch house. I swore the force of his words shook the beam above our heads.
Mom pulled her hands from the dough she was kneading and wiped them on her apron. “Scamper, Little Mouse.”
The familiar code made my stomach cramp and palms dampen. How many times had she drilled it into my head? “Scamper, Little Mouse. Find a nook to hide, just like a tiny mouse would.”
I bit my lip, shaking my head. “I want to stay with you.”
“Cecily! Where are you?”
“I’m in the kitchen, Allen. Just making your favorite biscuits for dinner.” She pushed me towards the back door, her hands warm and soothing but forceful. “Go, Little Mouse.”
I opened my mouth to try another argument, but her sharp look had me snapping it shut. The door closed quietly behind me. Mom knew better than to advertise that someone had made an escape.
I stepped to the side of the door and pressed my back to the siding of the house. I held my breath as I waited. Dad’s footsteps pounded against the floor. I watched the back step tremble with the force of them as though we were having our own little earthquake. One that only reached our house.
“John said you left today. Without me.”
I knew the words came through gritted teeth. I could picture my dad—the set of his jaw, the clench of his fists. The red that crept up the back of his neck.
“We were out of baking soda, and I knew you wanted biscuits with dinner. You were out all day. So, I took Addie into town with me.” Mom’s voice was soft, but it didn’t waver.
“Adaline should be home like her mother. She needs to learn how to tend this house so she’ll make a good wife one day. But I can’t imagine that’s possible with you teaching her.”
I pressed my hands harder into the wood of the house, splintered pieces embedding in my palms. I fought the urge to run inside. To tell him to shut up. It would only make things worse.
“I wanted to make sure you had what you wanted for dinner.” Mom’s voice sounded defeated, almost as if she’d given up.
“Then you should’ve planned ahead. Checked our pantry before I took you to the store on Sunday.”
“I’m sorry, Allen.”
There was silence for a moment, and I could picture Dad staring at her. Sometimes, he prowled around her like a jungle cat, looking for any signs of weakness.
“Tell me the truth. Were you going to meet a man?”
Mom let out a small gasp. “No. I would never. You know that.”
“Lies. I see the way you flirt with the ranch hands.”
I went up on my tiptoes, craning my head to get a glimpse inside. My stomach knotted as I took them in. Dad had grabbed Mom by the collar of her dress, pushing her against the refrigerator.
“I don’t. I would never disrespect you that way.”
“Bullshit.” He hauled back, slapping her so hard she crumpled to the floor.
A small sound escaped my lips, a panicked, keening noise. Dad’s head snapped around as he looked for the source of the sound. I took off running. My legs pumped hard as I cut across the back field towards the woods.
Our ranch butted up to national forest land. Those trees were my refuge and solace, the only safe place I’d ever known. I pushed my muscles harder, even once I’d reached the shelter of the woods.
My lungs burned as I dodged tall pines and fallen logs. Tears streamed down my face as the guilt grabbed hold. How could I have left her? I’d learned the hard way that it would be worse for us both if I stepped in. Still, I should’ve stayed close.
My run slowed to a walk as I wrapped my arms around my waist. I followed an invisible path I knew by heart and sent up a silent prayer for my mom’s protection. But I wasn’t sure that God heard me. If He did, He’d remained silent in response so far. I prayed harder, pleading and begging—for safety and for freedom.
My muscles burned as the path moved into the foothills of the mountains. The sound of rushing water teased my ears—it only made my tears come harder. This was the place that my mom had shown me, the one we’d bring a picnic to in summer or hike out to in our snow boots in winter.
I stepped out of the trees and took in the waterfall. The crashing of the water onto the rocks below reminded me that there were forces more powerful than me in the world. More mighty even than my father and his fists. I only wished I could channel them to take him on.
“Addie?”
My head jerked in the direction of the voice, my heart hammering against my ribs. I let out a shaky breath as I took in my cousin. “Evie.”
She strode towards me quickly, her horse, Storm, grazing by the edge of the pool of water. She framed my face with her hands and then pulled me into a hug. “What happened?”
“I-I’m okay. Dad hurt Mom.” My voice cracked on my words, and the tears continued to fall.
Everly hugged me tighter. “I’d like to kick his sorry ass.”
“Evie.”
She was so much braver than I was. So much fiercer. Never afraid to stand up to anyone, even her jerk of a brother or her dad when he was in one of his moods.
“Maybe we could poison him. There’s some rat poison at my house. We can grind it up and put it in his sweet tea.”
My hands fisted in her sweatshirt. “You can’t.”
Everly pulled back. “Why not? He shouldn’t be able to do what he’s doing to you and Aunt Cecily.” She bit her bottom lip. “Mom says we can’t interfere.”
No one wanted to interfere. I knew the neighbors saw Mom’s bruises, but they never said a word.
Everly’s fingers dug into my shoulders. “We could run away. We can gather our things, and I’ll bring Storm to pick you up. We could live off the land. We know how.”
Sure, our mothers had taught us what plants were safe to eat, how to build traps and shelter, but how long would we really last? I swallowed against the burn in my throat. “I’m going to talk to Mom. I’ll ask her to run away. We could steal one of the cars. Maybe we could take you and your mom, too.”
A look of longing passed over Everly’s face. “She’ll never leave. Dad doesn’t hit her or us. He’s just…”
Her words trailed off, but I knew what she meant. At times, it seemed as if Uncle Howard’s brain didn’t work right—he was always sure that the whole world was out to get him.
Everly’s fingers tightened on my shoulders. “But if you get a chance to be free, take it.” She gave me a wobbly smile. “You and I could go to college together.”
“Yeah.” College was a million years away. What I wanted more than anything in the meantime was to go to school. To have a real teacher and a classroom.
A crack of thunder sounded, and I looked at the sky. Dark storm clouds had rolled in, and a drop of rain splashed on my forehead. “You should go. You don’t want to get caught out in this on horseback.”
Everly looked back at Storm, who pawed at the dirt. “What about you? Want to come with me to my house? Storm can carry us both.”
I shook my head. “It’ll just make him madder. I’ll wait here for a little bit and then go back.”
Her jaw clenched. “You sure?”
“I’ll be fine.” I just hoped the same would be true for my mom.
“Okay. Let’s meet here for lunch tomorrow. Twelve-thirty?”
“I’ll be here.”
She pulled me into a tight hug. “Love you, Addie.”
“Love you, too.”
Everly released me and mounted Storm, giving me a wave as the skies opened. She kicked Storm into a canter as she rode away, headed down a path that would take her around and up the mountains to her house.
Rain peppered my skin. I hadn’t planned on this little adventure, and I was only wearing a t-shirt and jeans. I hurried for cover, but the trees could only give me so much.
The wind howled, sending the rain sideways and a chill rocketing through me. I’d just stay for a little while longer, enough time for Dad’s temper to cool. Only I didn’t think forever was long enough for that.
My family tried to break me. But, somehow, I made it out alive, even though the wounds from that survival are forever carved into my bones. Now, my only wish is for…normal. To know what it’s like to have friends, a job, a home.
The last thing I want is for my new roommate to see the scars I’m so desperate to keep hidden, especially not the ruggedly handsome man who steals my breath and sends my heart into overdrive.
But something tells me that Beckett has demons, too. I see it in the shadows haunting his gorgeous eyes and the way he looks at me with gentle understanding.
As our unlikely friendship becomes so much more, forces from my life slink out of the shadows. And we could both lose everything we’ve fought so hard for—down to our very last breaths…
About Catherine Cowles Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she’s not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.
When Jade left her childhood home for a life filled with more, she never pictured herself back there one day. Yet, sadly, her father’s death means accepting a new fate, and Jade returns to help her mother with the family store.
Coming back to town stirs old memories and emotions as she sees all the familiar faces of her youth. One, in particular, strikes a chord… Nate.
The man she left behind.
It was never about him, only about seeing the world. He was always happy staying still but Jade always wanted… more. A choice that led them down separate paths. Is this their chance to start again?
Their differences once tore them apart, but now Jade has seen outside their small community, could an old flame reignite?
Sammi lives in the Midwest with her own book boyfriend and two daughters. When she’s not reading or concocting steamy stories, she loves hiking, camping, and watching her girls play basketball.
**Series Complete** Maybe once will never be enough.
Jasmine My father may be Manhattan’s top property billionaire, but I didn’t rely on his name to get where I am in the cut-throat world of New York real estate. So what if I’m a workaholic? I still have needs––and by needs, I mean fun with no commitment. And the perfect place to have fun is at my best friend’s wedding in the Bahamas. Sun, sea, sex, and the perfect candidate is a crazy, brash, six-foot-three, bronzed Australian named Scott. Sparks fly between us, especially in the bedroom. But we have an agreement, this is a one-time deal.
Scott Some may say I’m addicted to danger, and they’d be right. I was a pilot in the Australian Defense Force and when I retired, I went back to my first love––surfing. Nothing like the thrill of catching a wave and wondering if you will make it to the end or be spat out in the wash. Now I run a successful surfboard design company in Florida, a world away from my home on the beaches of Sydney, Australia. Maybe I’ve been stuck in the office too long. Because when Jasmine Richards offers me a one-time deal on a private Bahamian island, I can’t resist. Ignoring every red flag, I succumb to the temptation.
When onetime is so good they keep coming back for more.
Onetime Lovers is book three in the Lovers in the City series. A full length sexy standalone romance with an Australian alpha male hero and a sassy, tell it like it is heroine. Guaranteed HEA and no cheating. Adults only.
Cate Lane loves books and beaches. Even better when she can combine these favorite things.
Living in Sydney, Australia with her husband and three children, she is lucky to be able to spend plenty of time on beautiful beaches reading books or dreaming up new stories.
Introduced as a teenager to romance novels by a spinster aunt, she is now an avid reader of all kinds of fiction. She particularly loves a steamy sexy romance especially one with a billionaire or military backdrop. She also loves the challenge to the mind and nerves of an exciting suspenseful murder mystery.
She has recently ticked off a bucket list item by writing her own sexy romantic stories about billionaire former military alphas finding their HEA with strong sassy women. She has even managed to weave lots of steamy romantic beach scenes into those stories.
Her debut standalone novel Broken Lovers is book one in an interconnected trilogy, and she has plenty of plans for a future linked series.
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