Statute of Limitations: What it is and when it applies

Happy Writer Wednesday!

This week, I have another little Criminal Justice tidbit for you.

The statute of limitations is a law that sets the time limit for how long after a crime is committed that it can be prosecuted. The limitations vary from state to state and can also vary by the type and severity of the crime.

The statute of limitations can be tolled (paused) in certain instances (while another case is being worked out, for instance).

There is no statute of limitations for federal crimes punishable by death, for certain federal sex crimes, and for federal terrorism crimes. This isn't an exhaustive list. There are other instances in which the statute of limitations doesn't apply.

In many instances, the date the crime was committed isn't necessarily the start date on the clock. Often, the clock starts when the act is discovered. So, for instance, if I work in a plant that's knowingly breaking the law by using a banned substance, and I am diagnosed with some disease as a result of their action, the clock starts when the injury is discovered, not necessarily when it occurred.

If you're writing about a crime that occurred at some time in the past, make sure you take the statute of limitations in that specific locale into consideration!

Deny Me: Her Best Friend's Father Excerpt #steamyreads #romance #teasers

Dive into the Her Best Friend's Father Trio with DENY ME, which includes the first three novellas in the steamy series! 

Two weeks.
No strings.
No commitments.

Those are the terms Mila Lawson offers Roman Gregory when they find themselves living together in Santa Cruz.

With a violent gang gunning for him and a cartel threatening to go to war, the last thing the ATF agent should be thinking about is claiming his daughter's twenty-two-year-old best friend. But after four long years of lusting after the gorgeous little blonde from afar, once Roman has her, he's not willing to give her up. 

She may be off-limits, but something about Mila drives him wild. There's nothing sweet about the things he wants to do to her, and nothing gentle about the way he takes her. She makes him crave a future he never envisioned for himself…one so much better than he ever dreamed was possible.

To keep her, he'll be forced to face the daughter he adores. To save her, he'll break every rule in the book.

Nothing will stand in his way. Not his daughter. Not the gang hunting him. Not even the law itself.

Deny Me includes the first three novellas in Ayden K. Morgen's Her Best Friend's Father series, plus 40 pages of bonus content. No cheating, with a guaranteed HEA.

EXCERPT

"You headed to the condo?" Finn asks when I flip on my blinker and hang a left.

"Yep. About two minutes out."

"Good. Stay there until this shit blows over," he instructs like I didn't already plan on doing exactly that.

I'm not stupid. I know how this game works. I live and breathe the fucking rules, both the ATF's and my own. Losing isn't an option for me, not when that means putting Talia at risk. My entire life revolves around keeping her safe. It has since the day I found out she was my kid, and I will never do anything that puts her in the sights of men like Guerrero or his boss.

"Plan on it," I tell him anyway as I make the final turn onto my street. The smell of the ocean seeps through the vents, intensifying. The sound of waves crashing against the shore washes over me, but the familiar sound doesn't soothe me like usual. I'm wound tight and beyond pissed.

Fucking Brady.

"I'll keep you advised of the situation here," Finn says.

"Yeah, thanks."

He disconnects the call.

I toss my phone into the center console, and then hit the garage door opener as my condo comes into view ahead. The place is modest compared to most of the other homes in the area, but I don't need big and flashy. I don't come here for that. When I come here, it's to escape, not to impress anyone.

"What the fuck?" I mutter as I pull into the driveway, staring at the red Dodge Charger parked in my garage. I've never seen the car before, and I know Talia isn't here since she texted me two hours ago to tell me that she and Trent are already in love with their new place in Sacramento. The lights in the condo are off, the entire place shrouded in darkness.

Warning bells begin pinging in the back of my mind.

"No fucking way they've found this place already," I tell myself. The condo isn't even in my name or any alias I've ever used. I buried the purchase under a mound of paperwork when I bought the place. I come here when I need to get away. It's quiet, peaceful, and close enough to Berkeley that I could spend time with Talia before she graduated, without worrying about who might find out about her. Finding me here would take a fucking miracle.

The reminder doesn't relax the tension coiling my muscles into tight knots.

I kill the headlights, back out to the road, and roll three houses down before reaching into my glove compartment to grab my Glock. After thumbing off the safety, I shove my phone into my pocket in case I need it. Once I kill the engine and step out of the truck, I keep to the shadows, circling around to the back of my property with my gun held firmly in my grasp.

I strain to hear anything over the crashing waves as I move through the shadows, but the house is silent.

That fact doesn't help relax me any, either.

Moving quickly, I slip through the side gate. The hinges squeal, but the sound is so faint, the wind quickly swallows it. I stay in the shadows for a long moment, watching for any movement through the floor to ceiling windows. The house appears to be as vacant as I left it after Talia's graduation.

I make my way to the back deck and then stop before my boots hit the first step. The back door is standing open, and the lamp beside the couch is on, casting the room into muted shadow.

And then I see her.

Mila Lawson.

Talia's best friend, and the entire reason I have a rule about not fucking my daughter's friends.

Blondes with green eyes are a dime a dozen in California, but blondes like Mila? Not even close. She has no clue how fucking gorgeous she is. She's curvy, soft in all the right places, and has the longest, sexiest legs I've ever seen. Her ass should be criminal. It's soft and round, and I want to know what it feels like in my hands while her legs are wrapped around my waist and I'm balls deep inside of her. I want to know what that soft voice sounds like screaming my name.

I've fantasized about her so much over the last four years, it's ridiculous. Since the day I met her, she's looked at me like she knows exactly what I'm thinking. Like she might not object if I gave in to the filthy thoughts running through my head and claimed her.

That's a problem for me.

I don't fuck my daughter's friends. Ever.

GET DENY ME NOW!

Reviewers are saying

"Scorching-hot taboo little story. I enjoyed it a lot. It's well written, well paced, and so hot!" Goodreads Reviewer

"What an enticing read! Roman’s and Mila’s chemistry sizzles off the pages and leaves you wanting more, more, more." Jolanda Gelissen, Amazon Reviewer

"Amazing, captivating story. I'm in love with the characters and cannot wait to read what happens next!!! 100% recommend!!" G. Kendall, Amazon Reviewer

"A gripping salacious read told from both Roman and Mila’s POV." AnnieB (Amazon UK Review)

"The series so far gets 5 shooting stars!!" Angie_stl (Amazon Review)

"I have an addiction with this story. It's definitely sensual and altogether passionate. The chemistry between the characters in every intimate scene is riveting." - Babel (Goodread Review)

"It it had me laughing, crying, moaning, heart racing and seeking a cold shower." D. Cinnamon (BookBub Review)

"The scenes were well written, the descriptions were amazing, and it makes you want to put yourself in the character’s shoes. Another stellar writing performance from Ayden K. Morgen!" Julie Fillner (Goodreads Review)

Rapture: The Playlist

For Rapture, I went back to the good ole' 90s for inspiration. There's just something about 90s R&B and hip hop that I can' get enough of. Some really great music came out during that period, and it's just as fun now as it was then. It doesn't matter what I'm writing, there's a 90s song that inspires me. Here are some of my favorites from the Rapture Playlist!

If I Ever Fall in Love by Shai

·         This is just a great song.

Can We Talk by Tevin Campbell

·         When the boys wouldn't cooperate with me, I blasted this song on repeat. I'm still not tired of it. lol

Nobody by Keith Sweat and Athena Cage

·         This was my jam back in the day. It's sexy and sweet at the same time. It reminds me a lot of Tristan with Lillian.

Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton

·         This is another favorite. No one does sad songs like 90s R&B artists did them. This one is pretty great.

All The Things (Your Man Won't Do) by Joe

·         Despite the cheating connotations, this is another sweet, but sexy song.

When Can I See You by Babyface

·         I had the biggest crush on this man when I was younger. This song is kind of incredible, and fits parts of this story so well. When the thing happens and Tristan is without Lillian… *sobs*

Gangsta Paradise by Coolio

·         Who doesn't know every word of this song? It's the perfect anthem for Tristan, Roman, and Kincaid when they go rogue. I love it!

Hail Mary by Makaveli

·         Another great anthem song. Tristan is all about revenge in Rapture. 

How I Could Just Kill a Man by Cypress Hill

·         I love Cypress Hill. They're always entertaining, and this song is another great revenge-type song.

Shoop by Salt-n-Pepa

·         What? Tristan, Roman, Jason, Luke, and Kincaid are all in one book. Of course I blasted this one!

Ambitionz az a Ridah by 2Pac

·         I know he's already on the list once as Makaveli, but I've always been a big Tupac fan. I listened to him frequently while writing Rapture, and this song always helped me get in the zone when I needed to write some of the grittier scenes.

Secret by Maroon 5

·         There's a scene in Rapture where Tristan arrives home and Lillian is singing. This is the song she's singing. I know it's not 90s, but I had to include it on the list since it plays a role in the book.

Also notable are Take Me Somewhere Nice by Mogwai and Stiletto Sex by Myah. These songs inspired two of Rapture's bonus scenes.

You can listen to the playlist on Youtube!

ABOUT RAPTURE (Teplo Trilogy #3)

All's fair in love and war…

Four months ago, DEA agent Tristan Riley nearly lost his life and the disabled ballerina who stole his heart. Now his relationship with Lillian Maddox is stronger than ever, and he wants nothing more than to put Teplo and the Vetrov case behind him. But when Elijah Noel and the deadly Vetrov drug appear in Los Angeles, Tristan is thrust right back into the middle of his worst nightmare.

In order to stop a vicious gang war and keep the drug out of Pedro Francisco's hands, the DEA agent finds himself wading into unfamiliar gang territory. The stakes are high, and the body count is even higher. Los Angeles is nothing like Seattle…and Francisco's people are a whole new level of terrifying.

When the DEA jeopardizes Lillian's safety and loses their one shot at finding the Vetrov drug, Tristan walks away from his job to save her life. With a rogue ATF agent and Michael Kincaid at his side, he will stop at nothing to bring her home safely.

Outnumbered, outgunned, and with his back against the wall, Tristan will find his resolve tested in ways he never could have imagine. Making a deal with the devil was never in his plans, but he'll do whatever it takes to save his ballerina one last time…even if he has to catapult the entire West Coast into a drug war unlike they've ever seen.

Read the entire Teplo Trilogy for FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Either/Or and Neither/Nor

Happy Writer Wednesday!

When either and neither are used as conjunctions, they're generally always paired with or and nor.

Either/Or and Neither/Nor is pretty easy to mix up if you aren't careful. Just remember that you use Either/Or when presenting or discussing a choice, and Neither/Nor when you're negating two parts of a sentence.

• Either she is or she isn't going.
• Neither Tom nor John knew what to do.
• Either Mandy is sleeping or she's ignoring my calls.
• Neither Joan nor Olivia answered the phone.

Fight for You: Cover & Blurb Reveal (Plus a Ragnarok Announcement)

I'm super excited to share the cover and blurb for Fight for You with you guys today! Fight for You is an emotional second chance romance. I've honestly never laughed or cried so much writing a book before. You can check it out below! There's also a special announcement below. :) 

Some men deserve redemption. Some men are worthy of salvation. I'm not one of them. My name is Michael Kincaid, and I've got so much blood on my hands, I'll never wash clean. 

For ten years, I've tried to outrun my gangbanger past by burying myself in my work with the DEA. I've tried like hell to forget the day I damned my soul and lost everything…my family, my home, and the only girl I've ever loved.

I still can't outrun it.

No matter how far I go, January James haunts me. Being without her is killing me, but what other choice do I have? We were still kids the first time I vowed to protect her. Instead, I destroyed her.

Now one of my enemies—a local gang member—has it out for her. He isn't going to stop until she gives him the territory I left her all those years ago. I swore I'd never set foot in Los Angeles again, but January needs my protection, and I'm not nearly strong enough to say no.

She deserves better than me, but she's mine anyway. It's time to stop running and fight for her.

She's an angel. I'm the devil on her shoulder. And this is my swan song.

When it's over, I'll either be the monster at the end of this book…or I'll be the man she deserves.

Fight for You is the first book in a series of interconnected full-length novels featuring law enforcement officers willing to do whatever it takes to protect the women who need them most. Each book can be read as a standalone, has no cheating, and a guaranteed HEA.

Release Date: October 15, 2019

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON | Barnes and Noble

*Pre-Order on other retailers coming soon*

Add to your TBR Shelf on GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

***

LAUNCH TEAM

Would you like to help launch Fight for You this October? You can now sign up to join Fight for You's LAUNCH TEAM! Launch Team members get exclusive access to the book, giveaways, and more! You can apply for the team at the link below. 

Apply for the Launch Team!

***

RAGNAROK PROPHESIES UPDATE

I'm happy to announce that Ari and Dace will be back later this year. FADE (The Ragnarok Prophesies: Book One) has been acquired by Tirgearr Publishing. Additional details will be forthcoming.

Fun with Commas Part 2: Rules to Memorize

Happy Writer Wednesday!

I have a few more comma rules for you this week, and then next week we'll take a break from them for a bit and focus on something else.

1. Use a comma to separate two or more coordinating adjectives when they are used to describe the same noun. Don't use one if the adjectives aren't coordinating. For instance: The artist painted in bright, bold colors. The green brick house was hard to miss.

2. Use a comma to set apart free modified at the beginning or end of a sentence. Laughing loudly, I looked up at the sky. I looked up at the sky, laughing loudly.

3. Use a comma to indicate a pause or a contrasted element. She looked sad, almost broken. His voice was shrill, not pleasant.

4. Use a comma to differentiate between dialogue or quotations. "You can try," he said with a grin, "but you won't win."

See? Easy peasy. Just kidding. Commas can be a pain, but remember to stick to the rules, and you'll do just fine! :)

Fun with Commas: Rules to Memorize

Happy Writer Wednesday!

Welcome back to another installment of Writer Wednesday! We're continuing on the Comma Train this week with a look at some of the rules for comma usage.

1. Use a comma to separate three or more items in a list. I'm personally a big fan of the Oxford comma, and use it before the word "and" in a list, though it's allegedly not necessary.

2. Use a comma to separate independent clauses joined by a conjunction. Remember the conjunctions are your fanboys (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

3.Use a comma to separate an introductory phrase from the meat of the sentence. You should also use a comma to separate an introductory word from the sentence. For instance: Yes, I am reading that. However, you can borrow it.

4. Use a comma to set off addresses, titles, items in a date, and geographical names. Little Rock, Arkansas \ July 22, 2019, \ Olivia Ronson, MD, is running for office. 1234 John Street, Los Angeles, California,

Next week, we'll continue with some of the other rules of comma usage!