I have always been an avid reader of romance and science fiction. I decided to merge my two reading passions together to create my own version of paranormal/science fiction romance. I love creating new worlds where there are endless possibilities for finding love. I grew up in a small town in rural Pennsylvania and am currently living in Indiana with my hopelessly romantic husband (who would never admit it under torture), the cutest and craziest toddler I’ve ever seen, and two mischievous dogs. While I haven’t sailed around the world I have been to Jamaica where I was married beside the ocean and in a previous career traveled to Germany and Switzerland.
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Author Website: http://fionariplee.com
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Find me online:
Author Website: http://fionariplee.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fionariplee
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/fionariplee/
Twitter: @FionaRiplee
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+FionaRiplee
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/fionariplee
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/43183443-fiona-riplee
I’m so excited to introduce you to Mia Wendel and Daniel Anderson in Circle of Fantasies. The sample below is the point where Mia and Daniel can no longer ignore their attraction to each other. It’s also the point where their professional actions and personal goals become intertwined within the story and they have no choice but to find out what going on. Kyle and Stephen Belrich, the father and son owners of Crimson Teck, have both Mia and Daniel on their radar and neither will let them continue forward in a lover’s relationship or a professional coup over the experiments the company has been hiding.
Enjoy the excerpt below from Circle of Fantasies:
Daniel saw red. He knew Stephen Belrich was a bastard, but hadn’t realized to what extend the old fart had lost his mind. Stephen didn’t have an ounce of proof Daniel’s personal research was associated with Crimson Teck. On the other hand, he probably had the connections to pull Daniel’s private funding.
“Let me worry about the details. Just get the deal. I would’ve liked to attend the meeting myself, but Mia will handle all the negotiations. Watch yourself. She’s gonna be your boss soon. Mia, take the reins. See you both back at Crimson Teck in two days.” Stephen ended the call.
The silence in the cab spoke volumes about their future.
Daniel swore.
Mia grabbed his arm. “You’ll have to change your presentation. Our careers are on the line.” She struggled to put her mobile phone assistant in her purse one-handed.
He shook off her grip. She grabbed his thigh bringing his attention back to her.
A buzz of static electricity snapped from her fingertips and gave his leg a tiny jolt. God, the sensuous energy oozing from her affected him like no one else.
“I know that!” He raked his hand through his hair and looked out the window. “I want to change the world on my terms, not Stephen Belrich’s.”
“You’re lost in your laboratory and clueless on how this technology will blow Crimson Teck off the map. This project will skyrocket the company to top-dog status in the industry. Stephen isn’t going to to budge on this decision. You should’ve kept your personal research private.”
Daniel shook his head. “Did you know he would do this? Is this the reason you replaced Sullivan Drake for this meeting?” Stephen brainwashed her good. She was a lamb going to slaughter. Neither Mia or Daniel would get any credit for Crimson Teck’s success if this deal went through tomorrow. The threat against Daniel’s work guaranteed he wouldn’t be able to work at any other company.
“The faster Bradley Grant Industries signs this deal the quicker production will occur. Your work will save millions of lives. Isn’t that knowledge worth a small loss of freedom?”
Daniel snorted. “Stephen has his hands in the pockets of the military. Years will pass before the technology reaches the public. The people who need the devices and medicine to fight their diseases will never see the benefits of what I’m doing right now. I’d love to earn a living that doesn’t require me to work eighty hours a week listening to a boss that doesn't give a shit about them.”
He directed the comment right at her and she pulled back as if he had shoved her.
“I give a shit about you,” she said.
“Tell me one thing you know about me that doesn’t involve work.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t have to memorize what movies you like to care about your well-being.”
“Why are you so afraid to get close to anyone? I’m laying the cards down right now. I want an honest response from you.”
The panic was back in her eyes.
She swallowed. “I’ve never lied—”
“Why do you fight this obvious sexual attraction we have for each other?”
Mia snapped her head back as though Daniel just slapped her in the face.
Her mouth dropped open. She stammered.
Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink.
“The chemistry is there, Mia.” His arm settled along the back of the seat. He brushed loose strands of hair from her face, and his fingers tunneled into the perfect arrangement. He wanted to mess up her precise business-like demeanor and watch her come apart. Daniel could show her the passion he sensed inside her. “The interest flashes in your eyes every time I accidentally touch you. For months, the tension between us has been under the surface of every meeting and conversation we have. You run from it.”
She shook her head, but didn’t pull away. “I’m going to this meeting for us. To move our professions to the next level. I know how brilliant you are. The two of us could run Crimson Teck or a company of our own
“I don’t care about Crimson Teck. I want you. Why do you ignore me at work? Why do you refuse to discuss—”
“This is a passing phase. I know. This situation has happened to me before.” She leaned in closer. Green fire flared in the tawny-brown center of her eyes. She clenched her teeth, and a muscle jumped in her cheek.
“Are you talking about your ex? He’s a douche. I’d never betray your trust like that and I’m glad you kicked him out of your life.”
She paled. “You watched the video.” She sat back and huddled by the door.
Seeing her broken, hurt him to the core. “No. I refused to.”
She laughed in what seemed to be self-deprecation.
Her eyes became glassy. “Lying won’t get you a date.”
Daniel cupped her chin and made her face him. “He had no right, Mia. Our private lives are our own. No one else’s.”
“You’d be the only one in the world who hasn’t seen that five-minute embarrassment. One point three billion views so far. I know others in the office will use my ex’s home movie as a reason for my promotion. I can’t obviously have earned a raise from my professional talents.”
He grasped her shoulders and made her face him. “Listen. That recording has nothing to do with you being a tough and excellent manager. The world-wide broadcast has everything to do with your reasons for pushing me away.”
A low-level glow highlighted her cheekbones.
Daniel blinked. Was the stress of this meeting getting to him? Mia’s skin wasn’t glowing.
“Don’t you know how rare our chemistry is?” he asked.
“Our fascination with each other is not unique. I told you, I’ve experienced these sensations before. They created that cluster with my ex. I’m not opening myself to that again.”
“I don’t believe you’ve felt an attraction like this before. The connection between us ... it’s something people only read about, but never get to have in real life.”
She really gazed into his eyes at that point, searching for … what?
The knowledge that what he spoke was the truth. That’s what she hunted for. Daniel drowned in the swirling pools of light within her eyes. They were a unique shade of green and brown he’d never seen before. The brilliant lime shade was outlined by a darker blue ring at the edge of the iris. Her pupils were surrounded with flicks of topaz and bronze exploding from the center.
“We haven’t experienced anything,” she softly said.
“Yes, since we got on the plane. The fire between us was there while we were sleeping Maybe this is our chance for happily ever after.”
“A relationship is a complication I can’t allow myself right now.” She closed her eyes.
He pulled her to him. Her lips were a breath away, and her heat fluttered over his mouth. He caught the sweet aroma of her airport pastry and knew she’d taste just as decadent.
She moved the slightest millimeter closer.
He moaned and sealed their mouths together.
She clenched his hand cupping her face and melted towards him, falling onto his chest.
Passion burst like fireworks where her body aligned with his. Better than his fantasies. He deepened the kiss finding out just how divine her lips tasted. A lingering flavor of icing and chocolate assaulted him as he allowed his tongue to sweep in and caress her mouth. He expected her to lash out, maybe hit him for the inappropriate behavior, for pushing her to admit something that terrified her.
She kissed him back. She sucked his tongue and licked his lips in mutual need.
He took control of the kiss and his hand stroked up that glorious silk-covered thigh. Conjuring every bit of control in his body, he stopped at the edge of her skirt just below the lace.
The cab pulled into the hotel drive and jostled them as the driver maneuvered over a speed bump. They pulled away from each other, both breathing hard and fast. The afternoon sun was a bitter reminder they weren’t in their own private cocoon of passion. They were here not for themselves, but for their employer.
A cold wave emanated from her body as though she stepped out of a deep freezer.
Daniel already missed her heat.
“I’ll meet you in the lobby for dinner.” She clutched the door handle ready to spring out any second.
There was stubble burn on her face and her lips were plump and swollen. No way could she deny the power of their attraction. Not once Mia looked in a mirror and saw the pleasure and desire written on her face.
Enjoy the excerpt below from Circle of Fantasies:
Daniel saw red. He knew Stephen Belrich was a bastard, but hadn’t realized to what extend the old fart had lost his mind. Stephen didn’t have an ounce of proof Daniel’s personal research was associated with Crimson Teck. On the other hand, he probably had the connections to pull Daniel’s private funding.
“Let me worry about the details. Just get the deal. I would’ve liked to attend the meeting myself, but Mia will handle all the negotiations. Watch yourself. She’s gonna be your boss soon. Mia, take the reins. See you both back at Crimson Teck in two days.” Stephen ended the call.
The silence in the cab spoke volumes about their future.
Daniel swore.
Mia grabbed his arm. “You’ll have to change your presentation. Our careers are on the line.” She struggled to put her mobile phone assistant in her purse one-handed.
He shook off her grip. She grabbed his thigh bringing his attention back to her.
A buzz of static electricity snapped from her fingertips and gave his leg a tiny jolt. God, the sensuous energy oozing from her affected him like no one else.
“I know that!” He raked his hand through his hair and looked out the window. “I want to change the world on my terms, not Stephen Belrich’s.”
“You’re lost in your laboratory and clueless on how this technology will blow Crimson Teck off the map. This project will skyrocket the company to top-dog status in the industry. Stephen isn’t going to to budge on this decision. You should’ve kept your personal research private.”
Daniel shook his head. “Did you know he would do this? Is this the reason you replaced Sullivan Drake for this meeting?” Stephen brainwashed her good. She was a lamb going to slaughter. Neither Mia or Daniel would get any credit for Crimson Teck’s success if this deal went through tomorrow. The threat against Daniel’s work guaranteed he wouldn’t be able to work at any other company.
“The faster Bradley Grant Industries signs this deal the quicker production will occur. Your work will save millions of lives. Isn’t that knowledge worth a small loss of freedom?”
Daniel snorted. “Stephen has his hands in the pockets of the military. Years will pass before the technology reaches the public. The people who need the devices and medicine to fight their diseases will never see the benefits of what I’m doing right now. I’d love to earn a living that doesn’t require me to work eighty hours a week listening to a boss that doesn't give a shit about them.”
He directed the comment right at her and she pulled back as if he had shoved her.
“I give a shit about you,” she said.
“Tell me one thing you know about me that doesn’t involve work.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t have to memorize what movies you like to care about your well-being.”
“Why are you so afraid to get close to anyone? I’m laying the cards down right now. I want an honest response from you.”
The panic was back in her eyes.
She swallowed. “I’ve never lied—”
“Why do you fight this obvious sexual attraction we have for each other?”
Mia snapped her head back as though Daniel just slapped her in the face.
Her mouth dropped open. She stammered.
Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink.
“The chemistry is there, Mia.” His arm settled along the back of the seat. He brushed loose strands of hair from her face, and his fingers tunneled into the perfect arrangement. He wanted to mess up her precise business-like demeanor and watch her come apart. Daniel could show her the passion he sensed inside her. “The interest flashes in your eyes every time I accidentally touch you. For months, the tension between us has been under the surface of every meeting and conversation we have. You run from it.”
She shook her head, but didn’t pull away. “I’m going to this meeting for us. To move our professions to the next level. I know how brilliant you are. The two of us could run Crimson Teck or a company of our own
“I don’t care about Crimson Teck. I want you. Why do you ignore me at work? Why do you refuse to discuss—”
“This is a passing phase. I know. This situation has happened to me before.” She leaned in closer. Green fire flared in the tawny-brown center of her eyes. She clenched her teeth, and a muscle jumped in her cheek.
“Are you talking about your ex? He’s a douche. I’d never betray your trust like that and I’m glad you kicked him out of your life.”
She paled. “You watched the video.” She sat back and huddled by the door.
Seeing her broken, hurt him to the core. “No. I refused to.”
She laughed in what seemed to be self-deprecation.
Her eyes became glassy. “Lying won’t get you a date.”
Daniel cupped her chin and made her face him. “He had no right, Mia. Our private lives are our own. No one else’s.”
“You’d be the only one in the world who hasn’t seen that five-minute embarrassment. One point three billion views so far. I know others in the office will use my ex’s home movie as a reason for my promotion. I can’t obviously have earned a raise from my professional talents.”
He grasped her shoulders and made her face him. “Listen. That recording has nothing to do with you being a tough and excellent manager. The world-wide broadcast has everything to do with your reasons for pushing me away.”
A low-level glow highlighted her cheekbones.
Daniel blinked. Was the stress of this meeting getting to him? Mia’s skin wasn’t glowing.
“Don’t you know how rare our chemistry is?” he asked.
“Our fascination with each other is not unique. I told you, I’ve experienced these sensations before. They created that cluster with my ex. I’m not opening myself to that again.”
“I don’t believe you’ve felt an attraction like this before. The connection between us ... it’s something people only read about, but never get to have in real life.”
She really gazed into his eyes at that point, searching for … what?
The knowledge that what he spoke was the truth. That’s what she hunted for. Daniel drowned in the swirling pools of light within her eyes. They were a unique shade of green and brown he’d never seen before. The brilliant lime shade was outlined by a darker blue ring at the edge of the iris. Her pupils were surrounded with flicks of topaz and bronze exploding from the center.
“We haven’t experienced anything,” she softly said.
“Yes, since we got on the plane. The fire between us was there while we were sleeping Maybe this is our chance for happily ever after.”
“A relationship is a complication I can’t allow myself right now.” She closed her eyes.
He pulled her to him. Her lips were a breath away, and her heat fluttered over his mouth. He caught the sweet aroma of her airport pastry and knew she’d taste just as decadent.
She moved the slightest millimeter closer.
He moaned and sealed their mouths together.
She clenched his hand cupping her face and melted towards him, falling onto his chest.
Passion burst like fireworks where her body aligned with his. Better than his fantasies. He deepened the kiss finding out just how divine her lips tasted. A lingering flavor of icing and chocolate assaulted him as he allowed his tongue to sweep in and caress her mouth. He expected her to lash out, maybe hit him for the inappropriate behavior, for pushing her to admit something that terrified her.
She kissed him back. She sucked his tongue and licked his lips in mutual need.
He took control of the kiss and his hand stroked up that glorious silk-covered thigh. Conjuring every bit of control in his body, he stopped at the edge of her skirt just below the lace.
The cab pulled into the hotel drive and jostled them as the driver maneuvered over a speed bump. They pulled away from each other, both breathing hard and fast. The afternoon sun was a bitter reminder they weren’t in their own private cocoon of passion. They were here not for themselves, but for their employer.
A cold wave emanated from her body as though she stepped out of a deep freezer.
Daniel already missed her heat.
“I’ll meet you in the lobby for dinner.” She clutched the door handle ready to spring out any second.
There was stubble burn on her face and her lips were plump and swollen. No way could she deny the power of their attraction. Not once Mia looked in a mirror and saw the pleasure and desire written on her face.
Now for some fun!!! Leave a comment with your email address in the comments and grab your chance to win Fiona Riplee's cool prize package:
Signed postcards and notebooks. The notebooks have a personal message from me inside. Bracelets, pen, talisman, and surprise gift. Included in this prize package is also a kindle ebook of Fiona's first book, Circle of Lies :)
Signed postcards and notebooks. The notebooks have a personal message from me inside. Bracelets, pen, talisman, and surprise gift. Included in this prize package is also a kindle ebook of Fiona's first book, Circle of Lies :)
Raz Donovan
Is Raz the savior of the Sixxer alien race, or will his child bring mankind and Sixxers together in peace? As a former M83 soldier and Transor, Raz vows to never get involved in the fight against humans again. Now, his only purpose is to protect his small circle and stay away from the one human female ruining all his plans. Once Raz realizes the extent of the Sixxer destruction, he is forced into a battle that will include fighting his heart.
Sandra Robins
Sandra always wanted a husband and a family. She wanted a happy and ordinary life. Unfortunately, her ex-husband had a different ideal. Now wary of men, she's drawn to the mysterious man that takes care of her best friend. Raz is nothing like her ex, and because of circumstances put into motion before she met him, she'll be thrown into a world where she can't tell the truth from the lies. Once she is a part of this world, there is no turning back. Her heart convinces her to fall in love again.
Is Raz the savior of the Sixxer alien race, or will his child bring mankind and Sixxers together in peace? As a former M83 soldier and Transor, Raz vows to never get involved in the fight against humans again. Now, his only purpose is to protect his small circle and stay away from the one human female ruining all his plans. Once Raz realizes the extent of the Sixxer destruction, he is forced into a battle that will include fighting his heart.
Sandra Robins
Sandra always wanted a husband and a family. She wanted a happy and ordinary life. Unfortunately, her ex-husband had a different ideal. Now wary of men, she's drawn to the mysterious man that takes care of her best friend. Raz is nothing like her ex, and because of circumstances put into motion before she met him, she'll be thrown into a world where she can't tell the truth from the lies. Once she is a part of this world, there is no turning back. Her heart convinces her to fall in love again.