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Exclusive Excerpt: SONGBIRD by CECILIA LONDON

April 13, 2020

Songbird by Cecilia London

Series: Standalone though technically is #7 in The Bellator Saga

Publisher: self-published

Release Date (Print & Ebook): April 14, 2020

Length (Print & Ebook): 80,000 words

Subgenre: Women’s Fiction/Mainstream Fiction with Strong Romantic Elements

Warnings: content warnings for death, violence, psychological trauma

Pre-order now:
https://books2read.com/u/3yEdRZ

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3a09cfH
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085T2172L
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B085T2172L

Book blurb:

 

Christine Sullivan isn’t an easy person to love. She knows how the world sees her – aloof, standoffish, cold…perhaps even bitchy. After a lifetime in politics, including a stint with an expat government in exile, President Sullivan has taken her share of body blows, but now she’s back in Philadelphia…a widow, a recovering Republican, a former public servant seeking a quiet, private existence.

On her to-do list – rebuild her relationship with her estranged daughter and invent the rest of her life. She has her best friend Caroline, her brand spanking new condo, and her ever frustrating Secret Service detail to keep her company. That should be enough for anyone, right?

Until Alexander Guardiola comes along… liberal, emotionally unguarded, younger. A lot younger. Everything Christine isn’t. And isn’t ready for.

But opposites attract, don’t they? And hearts and minds can always be changed…

 

Exclusive Excerpt:

 

How did humans ask other humans out? I had no idea of the proper etiquette. Even if I could hazard a guess, the protocol might have changed from what it was back when I’d never, ever considered doing it. I spent a good few days plotting out imaginary, perfectly conducted conversations before I decided to pick up the phone and wing it. Of course, he answered on the first ring.
I cleared my throat. Good, give off that female stalker vibe. Brilliant. “Alexander?”
“Yes.”
“This is Christine Sullivan. We met at your father’s retirement party last week.”
“I remember. I’ve been waiting for your call.”
Oh sweet tapdancing baby Jesus, his father told him he gave me his number. I wanted to slide off the couch and melt into the floor. Or throw myself histrionically onto the glass coffee table in front of me. Was I supposed to make small talk? Lead into it? Just get to the point so I could decide whether I was destined to scare him off or not? Small talk. I hated small talk. I should have written down some questions to ask if discussion slowed.
Yes, I’d been asked out on a lot of dates when I was younger. But I’d turned most of them down. Perhaps I was too driven, too singularly focused, too scared by my relationship with my father to even think of voluntarily spending time with men I was certain would only try to clip my wings. I’d dealt with plenty of them in a professional setting, used my feminine wiles once or twice to get what I wanted, but other than that, I was unfamiliar with the practical application of flirting.
“Are you still there?” he asked.
I’d been silent for so long he thought I’d hung up. Hopefully I hadn’t been breathing heavily. This was already a disaster. “I am.” Was I supposed to say something else? “Um, I was wondering if you’d like to get a drink sometime.” Smooth, very smooth. “Or dinner. Maybe dinner. We could—” We could… do what? Discuss foreign policy? I sounded like a dolt. I felt like a dolt.
“Are you trying to ask me out?”
The smile in his voice soothed me somewhat. “Yes.”
“I’ve never been asked out by a head of state before,” he said.
“Former,” I corrected automatically.
“Of course,” he said. “Although I must say you’re a much more attractive head of state than our current president.” He paused, and for a minute I thought he might have hung up. “Not politically,” he said quickly. “Physically. Not that I have any problems with Bailey’s policies. I mean, I voted for him, and I’m pretty liberal in terms of my belief system. And I don’t mean to imply that I find you attractive solely because of your physical appearance because I’m sure there’s much more to you than your looks or even your politics and I’m royally messing this up, aren’t I?”
Maybe I wasn’t the only nervous one. It couldn’t have been fun for him to have to sit through a talk with his father in which said father basically told him that the woman he’d been pining after for months had the hots for his son. “You’re fine,” I said. More than fine.

 

About the Author:

 

Cecilia London is the pen name of a native Illinoisan currently living in San Antonio, Texas. She’s filled several roles over the course of her adult life – licensed attorney, wrangler of small children, and obsessed baseball and footy fan, among others. An extroverted introvert with a serious social media addiction, she is the author of The Bellator Saga, an epic, genre-crossing romance series, and its spinoff, Songbird. You can most often find her causing trouble on Twitter or, less frequently, on Facebook.

Connect with Cecilia:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorclondon
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcecilialondon/

Categories : Contemporary Romance Tagged : Cecilia London, Excerpt, Songbird

Release Blitz: Phoenix (Bellator Saga #4) by Cecilia London

May 2, 2016

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PHOENIX EBOOKOne epic love. Two wounded souls. Three impossible words.

Ripped away from each other by circumstances beyond their control. Reunited in a place they never expected. Separated but never quite apart.

“You’re still the only woman I see. The only woman I need. I know you’re in there somewhere, sweet Caroline. We’re going to find you and we’re going to help you, until you come home to me where you belong. Then we’re going to finish what we started. Together.”

Her confidence shattered, Caroline finally starts to deal with what happened at The Fed. Jack is determined to convince her that she’s more than she thinks she is. That she wasn’t destroyed by her experiences. That their relationship is worth the fight. But will he give up before it’s too late?

Phoenix is the fourth installment in The Bellator Saga. It should be read after the first three novels in the series.

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AMAZON amazon uk amazon ca amazon au

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Come hang out with the author on her Facebook LIKE page
@ 9:00 PM EST
Monday, May 2nd
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Cecilia London is the pen name of a native Illinoisan currently living in San Antonio, Texas. She’s filled several roles over the course of her adult life – licensed attorney, wrangler of small children, and obsessed baseball fan, among others. An extroverted introvert with a serious social media addiction, she is the author of The Bellator Saga, an epic, genre-crossing romance series. You can catch all of her quirky updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or at her website.

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Purchase the Box set with Books 1 – 3 Today!

AMAZON amazon uk amazon ca amazon au

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Categories : Contemporary, Release Blitz, Romance Tagged : Cecilia London, Phoenix, The Bellator Saga

Cover Reveal: Phoenix (The Bellator Saga #4) by Cecilia London

April 18, 2016

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PHOENIX PAPERBACK

 

 

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Book Title: Phoenix Book #4 in the Bellator Saga

Author: Cecilia London

Genre: Contemporary/Erotic Romance

Release Date: May 2nd

Cover Artist: Sofie Hartley at Luminos Graphic House

***cooltext177091941246401

PHOENIX EBOOKOne epic love. Two wounded souls. Three impossible words.

Ripped away from each other by circumstances beyond their control. Reunited in a place they never expected. Separated but never quite apart.

“You’re still the only woman I see. The only woman I need. I know you’re in there somewhere, sweet Caroline. We’re going to find you and we’re going to help you, until you come home to me where you belong. Then we’re going to finish what we started. Together.”

Her confidence shattered, Caroline finally starts to deal with what happened at The Fed. Jack is determined to convince her that she’s more than she thinks she is. That she wasn’t destroyed by her experiences. That their relationship is worth the fight. But will he give up before it’s too late?

Phoenix is the fourth installment in The Bellator Saga. It should be read after the first three novels in the series.

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AMAZON amazon uk amazon ca amazon au

4d9d7-barnes2band2bnoble smashwords 5b09b-itunes kobo

 

 

 

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Cecilia London is the pen name of a native Illinoisan currently living in San Antonio, Texas. She’s filled several roles over the course of her adult life – licensed attorney, wrangler of small children, and obsessed baseball fan, among others. An extroverted introvert with a serious social media addiction, she is the author of The Bellator Saga, an epic, genre-crossing romance series. You can catch all of her quirky updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or at her website.

***

TNS

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Categories : Cover Reveal, Erotic Tagged : Cecilia London, Phoenix, The Bellator Saga

Release Day Blitz + Excerpt: Cecilia London’s THE BELLATOR SAGA BOX SET

February 29, 2016

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Two souls intertwined. One epic love story.

Get swept away in the passionate romance between political opposites Caroline Gerard and Jack McIntyre in the first half of The Bellator Saga.

This set contains the first three books in the series, Dissident, Conscience, and Sojourn.


“If you only read one series in 2016, make it The Bellator Saga by Cecilia London!” – Irene, The Literary Gossip

“I can’t recommend this series enough. It’s one for any contemporary romance reader, any Hunger Games lover, any dystopian lover, any fans of erotica. I IMPLORE you to read this series. You don’t want to miss it.” – TeriLyn Reviews


“…One of the most unforgettable reads of my life. This riveting and compelling story gripped me. Stole my heart. And I don’t think I will ever get it back.” – Bianca, Biblio Belles

“This series is unique, poignant, and unforgettable. Readers will be irreversibly captivated by London’s writing and intensely invested in the exquisite creativity that her mind has to offer.” – Vivian, Beauté De Livres

“An unforgettable saga unlike anything I’ve ever read before…I can’t recommend this series enough!” -Suzanne, Tied Up In Romance

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Dissident:

Rising Democratic star Caroline Gerard is reluctant to fall in love again after losing her husband. Can Republican playboy Jack McIntyre break through her grief and capture her heart? Told mostly in flashback and set against a chilling fascist backdrop, Dissident is a rollercoaster ride of political intrigue, passionate romance, and undying love.


Conscience:

Caroline faces the biggest challenge of her life when confronted with the cruelty and sadism of her captors at The Fed. Hope fades quickly, even as she holds onto her one last bit of sanity and her unshakable belief that her husband will rescue her. But is that faith just a mirage?

Sojourn:

Reeling from her experiences at The Fed, Caroline tries to forge ahead and create a new identity. But that’s hard to do with the ghosts of the past constantly whispering in her ear. She is determined to find the rebellion and move on with her life, but what will she find when she arrives there?

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When they reached the ballroom he locked the door behind him. Jack walked over to one of the decorative side tables and produced a box wrapped with red paper.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, handing it to her.

“Why didn’t you give this to me earlier?”

“I needed us to be in private when I gave it to you. Open it.”

It had to be jewelry. “I told you not to get me anything outlandish.”

“I don’t have to listen to you. Even if we are married.”

Caroline ripped the paper away. She opened the box and was greeted with an exquisite emerald necklace. Fringe design, with each individual green stone framed by tiny sparkling diamonds. The necklace was dripping with jewels from end to end. It looked like a prop from an eighties soap opera except it was stunningly, gorgeously real. She wouldn’t even want to speculate about the cost. “Jack-”

“Do you like it?” he asked.

She was convinced he only gave her presents just to gauge her reaction. To see how long she’d gawk at them before starting to gush. Caroline wasn’t refined when it came to her spontaneous responses to him. Did she like the necklace? A rather silly question since it was one of the most amazing things she’d ever seen.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.

He took the box from her. “I didn’t recall seeing you with anything other than sapphires or diamonds. We’re going to have to do something about that.”

She could only imagine the media attention they’d get if she paraded around wearing a necklace that cost more than what the average household made in a year, several times over. Sometimes her husband forgot that he was running for governor, not auditioning for the cast of Falcon Crest. “It’s too much, Jack. It’s so…elaborate. I can’t wear that in public.”

He smiled. “Then don’t. Wear it just for me.”

“Just around the house? Like, when I’m watching baseball and stuff?”

He laughed. “‘And stuff’?”

Her language was less polished than usual. “I’ve had a ton to drink today. I can’t always be articulate.”

Jack pulled her to him, leaning toward her ear. “How about you wear the necklace and nothing else, and grant your husband a dance?”

Now she saw where he was going. “A nice Christmas waltz?” Caroline suggested. “Fully clothed, of course. We must always be proper.”

He tugged at her sweater. “Try again.”

His romantic and seductive gestures were sweet, but impractical. “It’s cold in here.”

“I’ll turn the heat up.”

“What about you?”

“We don’t need to worry about me.”

Caroline sighed. “I meant your clothes.”

He unbuttoned her pants. “They’re staying on.”

That seemed unfair. “I’m not sure I like this power differential.”

Jack ran a finger under the waistband of her panties. “I think you do,” he whispered.

She shivered when he pulled her pants and underwear down. “Will there be music? Or are you going to parade my naked self around the ballroom in silence?”

“I picked a special song for the two of us.” He grinned. “And you won’t be naked. You’ll be wearing the necklace.”

She ran her hands down the front of his shirt, imagining how it would feel for her bare chest to rub against it while they danced. “You will undress at some point, right?”

He kissed her again. “Upstairs. Let me do this,” he said softly, stripping off the rest of her clothes, even her bra and panties. He laughed when he reached her socks. “Are those dinosaurs?”

Caroline liked wearing fun socks. She didn’t care if they were juvenile. She’d get away with it for as long as she could. “They’re wearing little Santa hats.”

Though he’d started to yank them down, he hastily pulled them back up to below her knees. “These can stay on. But only because they make you look so damn adorable.”

She tried not to think of what she’d look like wearing nothing but whimsical dinosaur knee socks and an emerald necklace, but the expression on his face indicated that Jack didn’t particularly care. He kissed her deeply before retrieving the necklace. He took his time placing it around her neck, then stepped back to look at her. It took all her effort not to blush. She hadn’t anticipated the night ending this way.

Jack tipped her chin up. “You look fucking marvelous.”

Her face had to be as red as a cherry. “Even with the socks?”
He brushed a stray hair out of her face. “There are few things sexier than a woman wearing an emerald necklace and dinosaur socks…and nothing else.”
***
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Join Cecilia on her Facebook like page for the release party!
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Cecilia London is the pen name of a native Illinoisan currently living in San Antonio, Texas. She’s filled several roles over the course of her adult life – licensed attorney, wrangler of small children, and obsessed baseball fan, among others. An extroverted introvert with a serious social media addiction, she is the author of The Bellator Saga, an epic, genre-crossing romance series. You can catch all of her quirky updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or at her website.


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Categories : Book Launch, Contemporary, Erotic, Release Blitz, Romance Tagged : Box Set, Cecilia London, The Bellator Saga

Cover Reveal + Pre-Order: THE BELLATOR SAGA: The First Trilogy Box Set by CECILIA LONDON

February 22, 2016

Book Title: The Bellator Saga: The First Trilogy Box Set (Books 1-3)

Author: Cecilia London

Genre: Contemporary/Erotic Romance, Political Romance, Romantic Suspense

Release Date: February 29th

Cover Artist: Sofie Hartley at Luminos Graphic House

***
Two souls intertwined. One epic love story.

Get swept away in the passionate romance between political opposites Caroline Gerard and Jack McIntyre in the first half of The Bellator Saga.

This set contains the first three books in the series, Dissident, Conscience, and Sojourn.


“This series is off the chain. OFF. THE. CHAIN. Gutwrenching, heartwarming, frightening, loving, sexy as all living hell – it’s life in a book.” – Beverages and Books

“I can’t recommend this series enough. The Bellator Saga is PHENOMENAL. I don’t know she does it but Cecilia has created this brilliantly intelligent, sexy, suspenseful, and moving saga with both light – hope, love, and friendship – and dark – hate, abuse, and evil. Each book has a distinct feel and direction and somehow each one manages to hit you at a completely different emotional level.” – Suzanne, Slut Sistas

“Breathtaking. Brilliant. Stunning…Reading these books is like eating a delicious and very expensive box of chocolates, each piece is unique, some sweet, some bitter but in the end you simply can’t have enough…never before have I felt so inside or so connected to a story.” -Dee, Wrapped Up In Reading

Rising Democratic star Caroline Gerard is reluctant to fall in love again after losing her husband. Can Republican playboy Jack McIntyre break through her grief and capture her heart? Told mostly in flashback and set against a chilling fascist backdrop, Dissident is a rollercoaster ride of political intrigue, passionate romance, and undying love.


 





Caroline faces the biggest challenge of her life when confronted with the cruelty and sadism of her captors at The Fed. Hope fades quickly, even as she holds onto her one last bit of sanity and her unshakable belief that her husband will rescue her. But is that faith just a mirage?

Reeling from her experiences at The Fed, Caroline tries to forge ahead and create a new identity. But that’s hard to do with the ghosts of the past constantly whispering in her ear. She is determined to find the rebellion and move on with her life, but what will she find when she arrives there?




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Cecilia London is the pen name of a native Illinoisan currently living in San Antonio, Texas. She’s filled several roles over the course of her adult life – licensed attorney, wrangler of small children, and obsessed baseball fan, among others. An extroverted introvert with a serious social media addiction, she is the author of The Bellator Saga, an epic, genre-crossing romance series. You can catch all of her quirky updates on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or at her website.

HOSTED BY:

Categories : Contemporary, Cover Reveal, Erotic, Romance, Romantic Suspence Tagged : Belabor Saga, Cecilia London, Conscience, Dissident, Sojourn

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