QSFer K. Aten has a new FF paranormal romance book out (bi, gay, gender fluid, lesbian): Paradise Lost and Found.
“Welcome to Paradise Island Resort, where we specialize in sun, sand, and self-improvement.”
Jess Parker has entered middle age single, bitter, and emotionally wounded. Even her friends have noticed her downward spiral into anger and resentment. Then she wins a self-help vacation to the beautiful Paradise Island Resort. Despite spending the past few years with her emotions on ice, the warm tropical climate and hotter resort manager, Lucia Cruz, succeeds in thawing her heart. Jess falls for Lucia, even knowing that her island stay is limited. Four weeks is hardly long enough when love is on the line.
Jess will need to make some tough choices about the rest of her life when her time is up. She’s vowed to be a better person and has started making positive changes, but it’s on Jess to put her heart and soul into it. She also holds onto the hope that some connections, no matter how unexpected, simply can’t be broken.
Author’s Note: Not a series but written in a shared world with my two contemporary novels… technically pulling them into a paranormal universe. I’m sneaky like that.
Get It At Amazon | Publisher | B&N | Bella Books
Excerpt
“Welcome to Paradise Island Resort, where we specialize in sun, sand, and self-improvement.”
Jess Parker has entered middle age single, bitter, and emotionally wounded. Even her friends have noticed her downward spiral into anger and resentment. Then she wins a self-help vacation to the beautiful Paradise Island Resort. Despite spending the past few years with her emotions on ice, the warm tropical climate and hotter resort manager, Lucia Cruz, succeeds in thawing her heart. Jess falls for Lucia, even knowing that her island stay is limited. Four weeks is hardly long enough when love is on the line.
Jess will need to make some tough choices about the rest of her life when her time is up. She’s vowed to be a better person and has started making positive changes, but it’s on Jess to put her heart and soul into it. She also holds onto the hope that some connections, no matter how unexpected, simply can’t be broken.
Excerpt (1000 words max) Jess woke to the jangling alarm of her phone. She blindly swiped the screen then rolled over and groaned. “It’s just one morning, Jess. Get your jet-lagged ass out of bed.”
She was unusually relaxed after a quiet evening and time spent in the large tub. It was the first time in years Jess woke without the aches and pains she’d gotten used to with the onset of middle age. She dressed casually, applied sunscreen, then made her way out of the cabin wearing her cross-shoulder bag. She didn’t know what the day would bring, other than the promised breakfast and orientation, but wanted to be prepared.
The interior of the main resort building was pleasantly decorated with quiet music filling the lobby. The space exuded everything the resort promised. It was warm, tropical, and inviting.
“I see you made it in time for breakfast despite the early hour. I can personally lead you to the dining room if you like. We’ve got a full buffet that our guests always seem to enjoy.”
Jess saw the tall shadow approaching out of the corner of her eye and gave a mental groan. Just her voice alone caused goosebumps to race up and down Jess’s arms. “Miss Cruz,” Jess answered in an annoyed tone. “Good to see you maintain your continued diligence where your job is concerned.”
Lucia gave her a playful smile. “Of course.”
“If you’ll just give me directions, I’ll be fine. No point in taking you away from your post here.” The truth was, Jess didn’t want to follow wherever Lucia would lead her. No, that would require entirely too much time staring at the woman’s backside for her sanity. Broad shoulders, and a firm ass inside those tight black slacks… nope. She didn’t have the mental fortitude to browbeat her libido this early in the morning. A libido she was certain was non-existent until arriving on this god-forsaken island.
“Are you sure? It’s no problem.”
“I’m certain,” she said through clenched teeth.
The unfairly attractive resort manager appeared hesitant but eventually conceded. “Okay. Keep following this hall to the end then take a right. There is a map on the wall at each juncture inside the main building so it’s pretty difficult to get lost. Enjoy your meal and I’ll see everyone for the orientation.”
That piqued Jess’s interest. “Oh? You do that yourself?”
“Of course. I believe a more… personal touch is enjoyable for everyone here at Paradise Island.”
The phrasing and emphasis on personal caused Jess to swallow unexpectedly. Was Lucia flirting with her? Impossible. Seeing that Lucia continued to stare at her expectantly, Jess forced a smile and made her way down the hallway and away from temptation. “It’s just been a long time. You’re reading something into nothing. Shut it down, Parker,” she muttered quietly. Her self-chastisement continued through her delicious breakfast, if only in her head.
Forty minutes later, Lucia’s voice once again upset Jess’s peace and bodily comfort. The woman standing a few feet away at the front of the room made her feel hot and twitchy.
#
“How was your breakfast?”
“It was great!” someone called out from a table behind Jess’s.
A gorgeous, pleased smile met the small crowd of assembled resort attendees. “Excellent. Only the best for our guests, yeah? If you’ll all give me your undivided attention for about ten minutes, I’ve got a few rules to go over and some amazing people to introduce you to.”
Jess opened the cover of her kindle in an attempt to ignore the liquid gold caressing her ear canals. With any luck Jess could put her developing crush in a tiny box and send it off to Antarctica.
“Miss Parker?”
Immediately called out, Jess’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Erm, yes?”
“Our orientation is for everyone’s safety and enjoyment. I’d appreciate it ever so kindly if you paid close attention. Trust me when I say you’ll have plenty of time to dive between the folds of your pages later.”
The embarrassed flush turned to something entirely different and focused much lower at Lucia’s phrasing. Seriously, she wasn’t imagining it, right? With a quick flip of the cover, she closed the kindle and sat back in her chair with arms crossed. When Lucia continued to stare at her, she gave a negligent wave of one hand. “Go on then.”
“Thank you, Miss Parker. I appreciate your fast compliance to instruction.”
Fucking hell.
“Now, let’s get started, shall we? Each one of you signed the forms online agreeing to the stipulations of Paradise Island Resort, regardless of how you came to be here. We are as much a mental health vacation as a self-help getaway. One of the non-negotiable rules stipulates that you must attend at least three session blocks per day or risk ending your trip early.”
The familiar voice of Bitchy Woman yelled from the back. “That’s such bullshit. I would never have agreed to that!”
“I assure you, Miss Coleman, that you did. It’s all in the contract you signed before traveling here.” She lowered her voice and tilted her head forward while making eye contact with the woman in the back. “Reading is fundamental, Brittany. Just ask Miss Parker here.” She waved toward Jess to prove a point and Jess sank a little lower in her chair.
Author Bio
K. Aten is an award-winning author living in Michigan with her wife, two kids, two cats, and her photogenic dog, Jill. She’s published sixteen mostly speculative fiction novels since 2018 and is currently penning for Flashpoint Publications. Kelly loves fanfic, gravitates toward speculative fiction in both reading and writing, and will talk your ear off about the entire book writing process. Kelly writes heroines into existence one story at a time.
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