Author Jennifer Woodhull is unveiling the cover to PROMISE ME FOREVER, the third book in her new adult contemporary romance series, Promise, releasing November 8, 2018. See below for the cover, information on the book, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
PROMISE ME FOREVER (Promise #3) by Jennifer Woodhull
About the Book Title: PROMISE ME FOREVER Series: Promise #3 Author: Jennifer Woodhull Release Date: November 8, 2018
Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis He Knows How Lucky He Is…
That Doesn’t Mean He’s Happy
There are a hundred guys in Nashville who would kill to be in Rome’s shoes. He’s a damn good guitar player, and in Nashville, that means one thing – country music is his bread and butter. Rome’s passion is classical guitar, though, and in Guitar Town, those gigs are few and far between.
His brother-in-law offers to get him an audition with an artist in the United Kingdom who needs a guitarist to play classical and Celtic music with her on tour. The opportunity is a dream come true. When Rome meets Lauren, the brooding and mysterious musician, though, he finds out the tour may be more than he bargained for. He’s the magnet to her broken steel. Lauren’s painful past keeps her at arms’ length. Is the promise of forever one Rome can really keep? Or will he end up leaving her behind, just like everyone else?
.
—————————————————————————-
Author Jennifer Woodhull
About the Author We all need moments of escape. With all the demands on us day in and day out, we each need something just for ourselves. Perhaps nothing provides a private moment – a brief respite from the everyday – like escaping into a great story. When you pick up one of my books I hope you find that place that you can escape to. Explore the streets of Paris with new heroines, or fly around the world to reclaim your lost love with a favorite hero. Whether it’s the romance that takes your breath away or those climactic encounters that make your pulse race, I hope you find that solitary moment of enjoyment while lost in one of my stories.
Jennifer Woodhull is based in the Southern United States, spending time in her second home of England, and traveling as often as she can. Her love of travel permeates her work, and her characters often find themselves exploring new and foreign surroundings.
A keen observer of human behavior, Jennifer often draws inspiration from something as simple as a fleeting connection, or the glimpse of a unique trait or characteristic. Her favorite place to write is on airplanes.
“The drone of the engine, the scores of people, all traveling to something or from something, and being disconnected from digital distractions are a combination that provide the perfect place to write,” she says. “If you see a woman in seat 9F who is balancing her Macbook on her lap because it’s time to close your tray table, please have patience. I’m just trying to finish one more sentence.”
Welcome to the blog tour for FINDING FATE, a stand-alone adult romantic suspense, by Kennedy L. Mitchell. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
Synopsis Three men hunt her. Two eager to harm and one desperate to save. Who will get to her first?
FINDING FATE is a sexy, standalone romantic suspense where love grows in the most unlikely of places.
Master hacker Fate Haley has one objective on her mind – vengeance. A year after an unthinkable tragedy destroys her family, Fate has the two men responsible in her sights and a plan in place to ensure they won’t slip through the CIA’s fingers again. At the edge of insanity, Fate’s prepared to risk it all until he slips in one dark night set on saving her.
Nash Bartley enjoys his new gig with the Contract Special Operations team. The constant travel and dangerous missions keep distance between him and any potential long-term relationship. He’s done that before and swore he’ll never do it again. Until the woman he’s sent to rescue blindsides his heart, altering his outlook on love and the future.
Attraction sizzles the moment the two meet and affection blooms during the long humid nights in the African jungle. When the evil zeroes in, Nash is forced to sacrifice a piece of himself to protect the woman he’s grown to love. But will it be enough to save them both?
Can this unlikely duo abandon their wounded pasts and let go of their secrets for a chance at a happily ever after?
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt A groan pushes past my lips as I roll to face my neighbor, but it’s cut short, turning into more of a gasp when I find him staring back.
“Hi,” I croak. “What’s your name?” Nice. The sentence I’ve been planning all day came out smooth and not awkward. Five hundred points for Gryffindor.
“What do you want it to be?” he says.
Okay, wait. Why does that line sound familiar? It’s right at the tip of my tongue….
“The guys call me Snowflake.”
For the first time in weeks, maybe months, a true laugh builds in my chest. “Snowflake. Seriously. You don’t look like a snowflake.” You look like a gladiator is what I want to add to the end, but I keep that part to myself. My arms tremble beneath my weight from all the scrubbing as I crawl across the floor and lean against the wooden planks.
“Yeah, well I’m the youngest of our little group, and they think since I’m a damn Millennial, I’m as delicate as a snowflake. Always getting my feelings hurt or offended by stupid shit.” He huffs a laugh. “The hair and tattoos don’t help with their misjudgments.”
“Are you?” Okay, how and why is there a smile pulling at my lips?
“Fuck no. They just like to give me a hard time. Fuckers.” Shouting outside the shack makes him pause until it dies down. “If you don’t want to call me that, Nash works too.”
“Nash,” I mumble. Knew it would be something unique. Unique like him.
“So, Pops, let’s talk about rules.”
I snap my head up to meet narrowed brown eyes. “Rules?” I question.
“Okay, rule. You got me there. One major rule.”
Beneath my veil, I search his eyes as I wait.
“Do not, under any circumstances, risk your life for mine again. They’ll do all that beating shit again to get information out of me, and next time I need you to keep your mouth shut.”
Great, he thinks I’m an idiot. Embarrassment drops my gaze to the dirt.
“I can’t watch them hurt you again because of me,” he sighs. The wood vibrates at the back of his head falling against it. “If we’re not careful, they’ll learn my weakness isn’t my own pain.”
Not sure how to respond to that bit of honesty, I avoid responding and crawl to the dinner pan, taking a sip of water from the cup beside it. Halfway through the overcooked beans, I glance over. He’s lying on his back, hands resting on his chest, staring at the ceiling.
“Do you hear that?” I whisper, then close my eyes, relishing the silence.
“What’s that, Pops?”
“Nothing.”
“Okay…,” he says, not understanding where I’m going with this. Of course he doesn’t. He wasn’t here when the girls were being raped on a nightly basis.
“There’s no crying. No calls for me to help them. No soft, broken whimpers in the corner or out there.” I nod toward the camp, which of course he can’t see. “You did that. You saved them. I know you’re here because of me, but you have to know, to understand what you did for them and me. Thank you. Thank you for taking them away from this shit hole.”
A long pause of silence stretches before he says, “You haven’t asked where they are.”
“They’re not here. That’s what matters.”
“But you are.”
Ignoring that bit of truth, I go back to eating. When I’m done, I lie back to savor the glorious silence.
About the Author Kennedy lives in Dallas with her husband, son, and 80lb Goldendoodle who still believes he’s a lap dog. A bookworm at heart, Kennedy loves to snuggle up in bed or by the campfire with an unputdownable book. She began writing two years ago with Falling for the Chance and has no plans of stopping. Her novels are witty, action-packed, and offer enough steam for a great facial. If you like strong heroines and sexy, tattooed men who can’t keep their hands off them, then this author is the one for you.
Welcome to the book blitz for BECAUSE YOU’RE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, a stand-alone young adult contemporary romance, by Sarah Kleck. See below for information the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
BECAUSE YOU’RE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE by Sarah Kleck
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: BECAUSE YOU’RE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE Author: Sarah Kleck Release Date: September 25, 2018 Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis
How do you recognize the love of your life? Do you have butterflies in your stomach? Do you see showers of sparks and fireworks as soon as he steps into the room? Or, is your big love composed of something quieter?
Annie longs for nothing more in her life than someone to love her with his whole heart. With Holden, this wish seems fulfilled, and the two build their own world. But how much pain can happiness bear? When something utterly shocking happens, Annie’s life becomes unstable, and nothing is as it once was. Then, she unexpectedly bumps into her teenage love Seth, and her life is completely thrown off balance—especially when fate intends its own tragic story.
From the Editor:
Because You’re the Love of My Life is a story of love, heartbreak, and more love—romantic and otherwise. As a senior in high school, our protagonist, Annie, takes charge of her life, and she bravely separates herself from a difficult mother and home life, and from recent heartbreak. She moves across the country—without financial or familial support—to attend college at Harvard. “I felt at home in Boston in a way I never had . . . This was right for me,” Annie says.
And, it is true: she blossoms personally, academically, and, then, professionally. Though she fumbles at times in ways that seem utterly human and familiar, she forges friendships, commits to a relationship, and navigates through profound tragedy.
Annie narrates from a point well past when the events of the novel took place and with the perspective gained from that time. Yet, Sarah Kleck renders Annie’s narration so vividly that it seems as if these memories are unfolding in present time. Sarah Kleck’s devotion to Annie’s story shines through sharply written dialogue, authentic detail of culture and place, and a cast of richly rendered characters—among them Grace, Annie’s sassy best friend, and the various loves of Annie’s life.
Because You’re the Love of My Life made me wish I could accompany Annie beyond these pages, and it left me hungry for Sarah Kleck’s next novel.
– Rebecca Friedman, Editor
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #3 Happiness. Unhappiness. What do these words really mean? Did people who were simply happy really exist? Like, really? Their whole lives? Or, well, most of the time. Maybe once there was something like that. People who walked all day through the world with a blissful Dalai Lama grin on their faces. But when I walked down the street, I saw a different picture. Grim, sad, dissatisfied faces wherever I looked. I’d only very rarely meet people who seemed to be generally happy in life.
The more I thought about it, the more it became clear to me: happiness isn’t a state. At least, not a lasting one. No, happiness is more like a snapshot. There are occasional rays of light that make life worth living. That let people glance over things that just didn’t go so well. To comfort them about what they regret, what dissatisfies them, and what makes them unhappy. Only snapshots—seconds and minutes of bliss amid our pitiful existence. An intoxication to which we devote ourselves and which, as soon as the effect wears off, torments us with hellish symptoms of withdrawal.
But was it really that crushing? Were we all just swinging from one happy moment to another in the jungle of our dreary existence?
Yes, probably. We always live for our next happy moment, bridging the wide gap with memories of the last one. That way everything remains bearable.
But what if the moments of bliss were no longer sufficient to make up for the rest? What if the bad parts took over? Is happiness only an illusion then?
—————————————————————————-
Author Sarah Kleck
About the Author
Sarah Kleck was born in 1984 in Southern Germany. She studied education, psychology, and sociology at the University of Augsburg. Today, she lives with her husband and their daughters in Germany near Lake Constance.
Sarah caught the imagination of 120,000 readers worldwide with her first novel “The Concealed” and its sequel “The Revealed”. After this successful fantasy series for young adults, she is now entering new territory with “Because You’re the Love of My Life”. Already a bestseller in Germany, this novel is now being published in English.
Welcome to the blog tour for LOVE YOU S’MORE, the third book in the adult contemporary romance series, The Campfire, by Beth Merlin. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
LOVE YOU S’MORE (Campfire Series #3) by Beth Merlin
About the Book Title: LOVE YOU S’MORE Series: The Campfire Series #1 Author: Beth Merlin Publisher: Ink Monster LLC Release Date: August 21, 2018 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis Having successfully designed the wedding gown of the century, Gigi Goldstein is on top of the world – that is until it all suddenly comes crashing down around her. When the paparazzi captures her and Perry Gillman in a compromising moment the night of the royal wedding, she finds herself entangled in a scandal of global proportion. Convinced her carelessness has ruined every relationship in her life, she’s surprised and moved by her boyfriend, Gideon’s, sudden proposal of marriage and accepts it without a second thought.
Four months later, Gigi’s living at Badgley Hall contemplating an entirely new kind of life, while guilt, regret, and obligation keep calling her back to her old one. Will Gigi stay in South Gloucestershire, marry Gideon, and become the Countess of Harronsby?
Or, will unfinished opportunities and an old flame bring her back across the pond to confront her past and reclaim her future?
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #3 “So, Gideon and I settled on a date for the wedding. It’ll be this summer. July 4th weekend. We figured it will give my side the benefit of the long weekend to get over here.”
“The wedding’s going to be here at Badgley Hall?”
“When Gideon proposed it, of course I said yes. I mean look around, who wouldn’t want to get married here?”
Alicia stood up and walked over to examine the large marble statue that stood in the middle of the fountain. She ran her hand over its two faces, each one looking toward a passage that might lead out from the center of the maze.
I came up behind her. “That’s the Roman god Janus. They say the younger face is looking toward the past and the older face, toward the future,” I said and sat back down on the fountain’s edge.
Alicia turned to me. “If these mazes were commissioned so secret matters of the family could be discussed away from prying eyes and ears, think it’s safe enough for us to finally talk about something?”
I took off my shoe and shook a rock out from inside it. “Sure. What’s up?”
“Gigi, I have to ask. What really happened with you and Perry that night in the hotel?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. Nothing happened.”
“I know it’s nothing like the papers implied, but why was he in your hotel room in the first place?”
I slipped my shoe back on. “He wanted to talk.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Talk about what?”
“You have to promise whatever I say stays here.”
She crossed her heart. “I promise.”
“Perry proposed. Although, technically, I guess he re-proposed.”
Alicia’s eyes got huge. “He proposed?”
“I don’t know whether it was part of his original plan or not, but he got down on one knee and told me he never stopped loving me, and he’d spend the rest of my life trying to make things right between us.”
Alicia suddenly whipped around to face me. “Didn’t you learn anything from what happened with Joshua? You were in love with him for years. Years. If you’d only told him.”
“Then what? He would have chosen me? You and Joshua were far better for each other.”
“So much better that I ended up marrying somebody else. Was Perry better off with Annabelle?” “Maybe. Perry and I seem to bring out the worst in each other.”
“The worst? When you were with Perry, you built G. Malone. You were named CFDA’s Women’s Wear Designer of the Year. Perry wrote Elizabeth and graced the cover of Rolling Stone magazine for Christ’s sake. You’re just afraid. It’s why you ran away to Chinooka then. It’s why you’re running away to Badgley Hall now.”
“I’m not running away. I’m building a life with my fiancé.”
“What life? You’ve stopped designing. You and Jamie aren’t talking. You’ve pretty much walked away from G. Malone.”
“I’m letting the dust settle. I’m figuring things out. You were in the pub last night. You saw all those people pointing and whispering about me.”
“You’re going to hide out in this maze forever? Is that the plan?”
Tears sprang to my eyes. “You have no idea what it was like to go to bed on top of the world and wake up the most hated woman in England—maybe even the whole world. Gideon believed me when nobody else did. He stuck by me through all of it, despite what his mother thinks, despite what every tabloid tried to dredge up about me.”
Alicia stepped forward and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “You’re my best friend. I want to see you happy, that’s all. You know I like Gideon very much, but you don’t owe him the rest of your life just because he stuck by you. All I’m saying is that I hope in the end this is all enough for you. I can’t help but think it may not be.”
“Look around. I got the fairy tale, complete with a castle, prince, even a moat. Of course, I’m happy. Of course, it’s enough.”
She put her arm around me. “If you say so, I’ll never bring it up again.”
“I say so.”
I peeked up at Janus, and for just a moment, I could swear, both his faces were looking at me—like they didn’t believe a single word I’d just said.
About the Author Beth Merlin has a BA from The George Washington University where she minored in Creative Writing and a JD from New York Law School. She’s a native New Yorker who loves anything Broadway, rom-coms, her daughter Hadley, and a good maxi dress. She was introduced to her husband through a friend she met at sleepaway camp and considers the eight summers she spent there to be some of the most formative of her life. One S’more Summer is Beth’s debut novel.
Welcome to the blog tour for HUNTING DANGER,the fifth book in the adult romantic suspense series, Redemption Harbor, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Katie Reus. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
HUNTING DANGER (Redemption Harbor #5) by Katie Reus
When a childhood friend needs help, Nova doesn’t hesitate. They endured the foster system together, forging a bond Nova can’t ignore. Relying on her friends from Redemption Harbor Consulting—including Gage, the computer genius she’s falling for—is out of the question. She used to work for the CIA and she’s trained—she can handle this. Besides, the whole team is working on their own important jobs. She’s not going to drag anyone away when she’s not sure it’s necessary.
Is the one he can’t have…
When Nova asks for time off out of the blue—and use of the company jet—former Marine Gage takes note. Of course, he notices everything about Nova. But as one of her bosses, his growing attraction to her is a line he won’t cross. However, that doesn’t mean he’ll let her run straight into danger—and a quick hack of her computer proves she’s gotten in over her head. Gage is coming along for the ride, whether the sassy assistant likes it or not. He’ll do whatever’s necessary to save her friend…and keep Nova out of the clutches of a lethal enemy who won’t hesitate to kill anyone who gets in their way.
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #4 Nova smiled at Jim the pilot as she reached the short set of stairs to the Learjet. “Thank you for getting here so quickly,” she said, even though she knew it had absolutely nothing to do with her.
No, the guy was on standby because Brooks Alexander paid him a crapload of money. It was his job. But there was no reason she couldn’t be polite.
He nodded once, his gaze sweeping over her appreciatively, but thankfully not in a creepy way, before he straightened. “Glad you’re here. I’ve already filed the flight plan and done the preflight checks so we’re ready to go as soon as you settle in.”
She quickly moved up the stairs and froze the moment she ducked inside the plane—when she saw Gage sitting in one of the plush leather seats, a laptop in front of him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Immediately she winced at her loud tone.
“I think I should be asking you who the hell this is?” He turned his laptop around on the small table as she stomped inside. She was vaguely aware of the pilot ducking inside then closing the hatch. But she ignored him as he headed to the cockpit, focused only on Gage.
She wasn’t exactly surprised to see Brody Kingston’s face on the screen. Damn it, she should have done a better job of erasing her tracks. Or maybe Gage shouldn’t have been such a sneak. “You checked up on what I was doing?”
“Yep.” There wasn’t one ounce of apology on his face either. His annoyingly handsome face. That she wanted to punch just a little right now.
“Why?”
He snorted. “Don’t change the subject.”
She glanced over her shoulder as the engines rumbled to life. Then she turned back to Gage. “You need to get off this plane. You’re not invited.”
He stood, though he had to bend down slightly to avoid hitting his head on the roof as he towered over her. “I’m going. Now start talking.”
Glaring at him, she took a seat across the aisle instead of sitting in front of him or next to him. Then she crossed her legs away from him as she strapped in.
“You can give me the silent treatment all you want,” he said, dropping back into his seat. “I can just guess what you’re doing. Did you date this guy?” He seemed to struggle with the question.
Frowning, she looked at him. “Seriously? That’s the best you could come up with? No, I didn’t date him. I don’t know him. My best friend is engaged to him. And something is wrong.” She sighed, realizing it was better to simply tell Gage everything she knew, which wasn’t a whole lot. So she quickly ran through the texts she’d received from Layla.
In the background, the pilot let them know they would be taking off soon and to make sure they were strapped in. Both she and Gage ignored him.
Once she was done, Gage seemed somewhat more at ease. “That is definitely strange. Why didn’t you just come to one of us? We would have come with you. Obviously.” Now that frown was back and even deeper than before. He looked all sexy when he got frustrated like that, deep in thought.
Something she didn’t care about. She didn’t.
—————————————————————————-
Author Katie Reus
About the Author Katie Reus is the New York Times, USA Today, and IndieReader bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.
However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense. Her book Avenger’s Heat recently won the Georgia RWA Maggie Award for Excellence in the fantasy/paranormal category.
Welcome to the blog Tour for ISLAND ON FIRE, a stand-alone adult historical thriller, by Sophie Schiller. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
ISLAND ON FIRE by Sophie Schiller
About the Prequel – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: ISLAND ON FIRE Author: Sophie Schiller Release Date: April 10, 2018 Genre: Adult Historical Thriller Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis In the lush, tropical world of Martinique where slavery is a distant memory and voodoo holds sway, Emilie Dujon discovers that her fiancé, a rich sugar planter, has been unfaithful. Desperate to leave him, she elicits the aid of a voodoo witch doctor and is lured into a shadowy world of black magic and extortion. When the volcano known as Mount Pelée begins to rumble and spew ash, she joins a scientific committee sent to investigate the crater. During the journey she meets Lt. Denis Rémy, an army officer with a mysterious past.
At the summit, the explorers discover that a second crater has formed and the volcano appears to be on the verge of eruption. But when they try to warn the governor, he orders them to bury the evidence for fear of upsetting the upcoming election. As the pressure builds, a deadly mudslide inundates Emilie’s plantation and she disappears. With ash and cinders raining down, chaos ensues. Left with no choice, Lt. Rémy deserts his post and sets off on a desperate quest to rescue Emilie. But with all roads blocked, can they escape the doomed city of St. Pierre before it’s too late?
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #2 Rémy turned to face his adversary.
It was a beautiful mulâtresse with exotic eyes, fiery lips, and a long and graceful neck. She wore a muslin dress lined with expensive lace and a yellow turban that accentuated her high cheekbones and bronze skin. Around her neck she wore a necklace of gold beads that glinted in the candlelight. She regarded him with smoldering eyes, and in her hand she held a Browning semiautomatic pistol. She chambered a round with expert precision, flipped the safety catch, and pointed the pistol at Rémy’s chest.
“Don’t move, Lieutenant,” said the Grand Zamy. “She’s trained to shoot robbers and looters and is an expert marksman. Unlike me, Alphonsine is not interested in healing people.” His mouth twisted in a cunning smile.
“That’s a fancy pistol for a lady,” said Rémy.
“Quite necessary when you engage in a dangerous business such as ours,” said the Grand Zamy. “Jealous boyfriends, enraged husbands, swindled business partners, vengeful neighbors. We get all kinds.”
“Yes, I’m starting to get the picture,” said Rémy, keeping his eyes on the pistol. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his heart pounded. Somehow he had to get the pistol from her. He had to disarm her. “Still, I’m not used to seeing a beautiful lady brandishing a weapon such as this. For a soldier, a woman with a gun is quite alluring.”
He inched closer to the woman and, in an instant, grabbed her hand and pointed the pistol up. She pulled the trigger and a blast rang out, sending plaster showering from the ceiling. The woman screamed, and Rémy twisted her arm, forcing her to drop the weapon. Then he gave her a forceful knock that sent her hurtling to the floor. Before Rémy could retrieve his own weapon, the Grand Zamy brandished a cutlass and lunged at him.
—————————————————————————-
Author Sophie Schiller
About the Author
Sophie Schiller was born in Paterson, NJ and grew up in the West Indies. She loves stories that carry the reader back in time to exotic and far-flung locations. Kirkus Reviews called her “an accomplished thriller and historical adventure writer”. Her latest novel is Island on Fire, a thriller about the worst volcanic disaster of the 20th century. She was educated at American University, Washington, DC and lives in Brooklyn, NY.
Welcome to the blog tour for UNLOCKING SHADOWS, the fourth book in the adult mystery/romantic suspense series, Keys to Love, by USA Today bestselling author, Kennedy Layne. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
UNLOCKING SHADOWS (Keys to Love #4) by Kennedy Layne
About the Book Title: UNLOCKING SHADOWS Series: Keys to Love #4 Author: Kennedy Layne Release Date: September 18, 2018
Genre: Adult Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Military Romance
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis Their homecoming wasn’t so welcoming. Four brothers and one sister each gave twelve years of their lives to serve their country and fulfill their family’s legacy of service. As each of them return to their home of record, they weren’t prepared for what awaited them—an unforgiveable sin that has been hidden for twelve long years. Secrets and lies are concealed in the dark shadows of the very town they were raised in, and the Kendall family will have no choice but to rely on one another to unravel the sinister evil that they all hold the keys to unlock.
About Unlocking Shadows Gwen Kendall spent ten years in the Navy and used the last four to create a life for herself she could be proud of away from the confines of her overprotective family. Being the only woman in the Kendall clan tended to be a bit overwhelming at times.
Chad Schaeffer had been hired on to help restore an old farmhouse for one of the returning Kendall siblings. He’d heard about the trouble the family had encountered and honestly didn’t want to go anywhere near their properties. He had a change of heart when he saw the most recently returned Kendall sibling stepping out of her car with a key in her hand.
Gwen had waited a very long time to have a place to call her own, just as she had waited for the right man to share her life. One night of seduction convinces her she’s found both, but someone wants to take it all away. It’s been said that old houses retain a piece of each person who has lived there, but she never counted on the dark shadows wanting a piece of her.
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #1 It wasn’t long until Chad was by himself, giving him a chance to finish his beer. It was warm and didn’t taste nearly as refreshing as when he’d first popped the can, but it was better than listening to her family fight.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey, back.” Chad was still leaning against the windowsill. He was surprised that Gwen had come back upstairs, almost wishing she’d stayed with her family below. He’d already made the decision to distance himself from her a bit more. Her seeking him out would only give Lance and the others the wrong idea about what kind of relationship they had, providing them with more fodder than they already had. “I’ll start on that list you gave me first thing Monday morning. Oh, that reminds me.”
Chad shifted so that he could reach in the front pocket of his jeans for his key ring. He set his empty beer can down beside him and tried to lift the metal lip in order to remove Gwen’s house key. “
You’ll be wanting this back now that you’ve moved in.” Chad didn’t have the nails needed to pry the ring apart, so he reached into his other pocket where he carried a small pocketknife. “I’ll make sure I’m here before you leave for work on Monday morning.”
Gwen slowly crossed the bedroom floor that had turned out better than he’d expected, not stopping until she was standing inches from him. Her blue eyes weren’t focused on the keyring, but rather on his lips.
Damn, if she didn’t just raise the temperature in this house by twenty damn degrees.
Her lashes slowly lifted until her gaze connected with his.
“I’m tired of knocking around about this, Chad,” Gwen murmured, reaching out and gently resting her hand on his. “Keep the key. You’re going to need it when you come by tonight.”
About the Author Kennedy Layne is a USA Today bestselling author. She draws inspiration for her military romantic suspense novels in part from her not-so-secret second life as a wife of a retired Marine Master Sergeant. He doubles as her critique partner, beta reader, and military consultant. They live in the Midwest with their teenage son and menagerie of pets. The loyal dogs and mischievous cats appreciate her writing days as much as she does, usually curled up in front of the fireplace. She loves hearing from readers–find out how to connect with her at www.kennedylayne.com..
Welcome to the book blitz for SPARKLES IN LOVE, the first book in the adult contemporary romance/romantic comedy series, Sparkles Book Club, by Sarah Gai. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
SPARKLES IN LOVE (Sparkles Book Club #1) by Sarah Gai
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: SPARKLES IN LOVE
Series: Sparkles Book Club #1 Author: Sarah Gai Release Date: March 18, 2017 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis A Romantic Comedy with a plus size heroine! You will fall in love INSTANTLY!
Meet Jess. Accident prone and unlucky in love. Her life has hit a stalemate. What better way to change things up than by playing Matchmaker. But Jess gets more than what she’s bargained for. It also doesn’t help that she lives next door to the worlds sexiest man. When things go wrong and Jess is faced with her own feelings, will she admit them?, Run? or finally catch a break!
‘Fall in love with this tutu toting, pink wig wearing cutie and come along for some major laughs, with her and her friends!’
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt I remembered my mission and left Haley, speeding up my pace as I searched for the tallest head in the bar. Brax wasn’t hard to find—he towered over ninety percent of the other patrons filling the place.
I spotted him over near the stage, his hands above his head leaning against the wall. As I got closer, I could see he was talking to a woman, who was much shorter than he. She had her back against the wall and her eyes were all starry as they peered up at him. Typical. I hadn’t even been there an hour and I had to put up with that. Not that it bothered me at all. Nope, not one single bit. Brax was a grown man who could do whatever he wanted. Who was I kidding? I was so jealous it hurt. God, why couldn’t he look at me like that?
Setting my irritation and jealousy aside, I pushed my way through the crowd and planted myself right in the middle of their partnering; facing the woman, I smiled.
“Sorry, I only need one moment of my neighbor’s time. Just one little second,” I said and raised my pointer finger to face height so she understood over the music.
I didn’t wait for her reply but immediately turned and stared up into the face of a God—crap, I mean Brax. I didn’t have time for lusty thoughts about him right now.
Brax opened his mouth to speak, but I covered it with my palm.
“No time for your cocky words, my friend. Did you do what I asked? Just nod, that’s all I need from you tonight. Save your words for what’s-her-face behind me.”
I could feel Brax laugh, his mouth moving behind my hand as he nodded up and down.
“Great, where is he?” I continued.
Brax just raised an eyebrow as I waited for his reply. I realized why he wasn’t answering and quickly removed my palm from his mouth.
“You look adorable tonight, Jess.”
Those velvety words streamed from his mouth, well, actually, were hollered, but my mind wanted to imagine it another way. Stupid man! He had no idea what he did to me. It took a lot of effort to act as if his presence didn’t affect me. Every. Damn. Day.
I hit him in the stomach. I wasn’t falling for his smoothness this time. Other girls would, but I’ve been living next to him for years and have heard it all before.
“Knock it off. Now hurry up and tell me where Goatee Guy is,” I demanded, entirely over the conversation already.
Brax peered around me before leaning over my shoulder to whisper something in the woman’s ear behind me. I knew then what being the meat in a sandwich felt like and it was pretty darn uncomfortable as my backside pushed into her front. Nevertheless, she didn’t seem to care as she giggled girlishly into my ear.
Brax stood up straight once more and flung an arm around my shoulder, pulling me away from the side of the club and making way for us through the crowd. As we reached the bar, I pushed his arm off and away and took a seat on a vacant stool. His two arms placed themselves on either side of my body, caging me in as I waited for one of the bartenders to take my order.
“First off, his name is not Goatee Guy. He’s my brother and his name is Thomas. But I’ll let him know what you call him. And yes, Thomas is here,” Brax whispered in my ear. If that bar wasn’t holding me up, the floor and I would have been quite acquainted.
“So, where is he then?” I managed to groan out. I hoped I sounded annoyed and not super flustered, which is what I was feeling with his uber-close proximity.
“I don’t know. I’m not his keeper, but he’s here somewhere,” Brax snorted. “Why is it so important to get him here anyway? I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love hanging with my baby bro, but you were adamant he had to come tonight, which makes me think you’re up to something,” Brax spoke into my ear again.
I couldn’t take it. Screw the drink, I needed fresh air A.S.A.P. Ducking under his arm, I pushed him out of the way and made a beeline for the beer garden. But as I pushed open the glass door, I felt the impact and heard, “Argh!!!” Oh God, I’d pushed the door straight into some poor guy’s nose!
I let go of the door and brought my hands up to cover my face, too scared to look. Oh God, oh God, oh God. I felt the chilly gust of air as the door was flung open again. Taking a peek out through the crack between my fingers, I saw none other than Goatee, I mean Thomas, holding a hand over his bleeding nose.
“Shit! Thomas! Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I cried.
Grabbing him by the shirtsleeve, I took the lead and began pulling him as fast as I could through the crowd and towards the back offices where I knew Damon kept his first-aid kit. Being accident prone, I had to know exactly where he kept the medical supplies. Usually, I was fine—it was other people that really needed to steer clear of me completely or give me a tremendously wide-berth.
As we walked along the corridor, the perfect opportunity presented itself—May was just coming out of the women’s bathroom. That’s when I decided to push Thomas in front of her.
“May, you have to help him! I’m freaking out about all the blood.”
“Oh, jeepers. What happened?” May asked urgently, trying cautiously to peer behind Thomas’ hands to inspect the damage.
“I happened. I pushed a door into his face, which, mind you, I’m going to have to talk to Damon about the dangers…”
“Yes, you do that, Jess,” May cut my rambling. She grabbed Thomas and led him to the end of the corridor and through the door into the office.
I watched them disappear and couldn’t help but smile. Plan “Help May Find Love” was officially in play! Damn, this whole matchmaker thing was working like a charm. Maybe I had found my new calling—Sparkles the Matchmaker fairy.
The sad thing was I had no idea exactly what was about to be set in motion.
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Author Sarah Gai
About the Author Wow! How do I sum up my life? …. Well, I’m a mother of Three little princes who light my life. A wife to a very patient husband who puts up with my hectic thinking. A completely imperfect woman who sees the grace of God everyday. Especially when I toe the lines with my writing. I don’t give you fairytales, I bring a lot of the real world into my stories. A tattooed, plus size, coffee drinking, wears her heart on her sleeve, incessant chatterer!
My love is writing and reading fiction. I’m also one of the world’s worst cooks, but I love food!
As for being an Author, I seriously can not pick a Genre and stick to it. Yes, i’m pretty mixed up. I need comedy, tear jerkers, flawed characters, a little adventure and a big escape. So, I write it all!!!
Welcome to the blog Tour for THE SECRETS IN OUR SCARS, a stand-alone new adult romantic suspense, by Rebecca Rogner. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive look at the book’s playlist, and details on her giveaway.
THE SECRETS IN OUR SCARS by Rebecca Trogner
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: THE SECRETS IN OUR SCARS Author: Rebecca Trogner Release Date: February 7, 2018 Genre: New Adult Romantic Suspense Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis A sexy romance. A twisted mystery. One mistake can change everything.
On a sweltering summer day, Daisy Aldridge knocks on the wrong door. Yanked inside. Trapped and pressed against her only means of escape she spirals into a panic. Years ago she suffered an assault. Alone and afraid, she kept it hidden and dealt with the emotional aftermath in her own way.
But this time she’s not alone. She’s helped by a man who seems vaguely familiar. Roy Blackwood is massive, muscled, powerful, and controlled. She tells herself she wants nothing to do with him.
Roy sees through her resistance. He wants her. Needs her. He promises to find the identity of her birth parents and unveil the person who leaves her anonymous gifts. And most important of all, earn the love and trust of Daisy Aldridge..
A standalone, full-length romance.
—————————————————————————-
Playlist
Belong To The World, The Weeknd
Set Fire to the Rain, Adele
Young and Beautiful, Lana Del Rey
Summertime Sadness, Lana Del Rey
Crazy Bitch, Buckcherry
That Smell, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Behind Blue Eyes, The Who
Fortunate Son, Creedence Clearwater Revival
Kurt Seyit & Sura Jenerik Muzigi, Toygar Isikli
Monster, Skillet
All My Life, Foo Fighters
It’s Raining Men, The Weather Girls
—————————————————————————-
Author Rebecca Trogner
About the Author
Rebecca Trogner started writing her first novel after watching True Blood. Of course it was about vampires and thus The Last Keepers Daughter was born. The next, The Last Guardian Rises, continued the series. Her latest book, Secrets In Our Scars, is a contemporary romance and a lot spicier. She’s working on her fourth book with the help of her rescued animal pets.
Kelly Collins is unveiling another teaser from BETTING ON HIM, the first book in her adult contemporary romance/romantic suspense series, Wilde Love, releasing October 15, 2018. See below for information on the book, preorder links, and the exclusive teaser.
BETTING ON HIM (Wilde Love #1) by Kelly Collins
About the Book
Title: BETTING ON HIM Series: Wilde Love #1 Author: Kelly Collins Release Date: October 15, 2018 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis He’s a gangster going straight. She’s a waitress going bankrupt. Will their gamble on a marriage of convenience pay off in true love?
Alex Wilde desperately wants to be free of the family’s mob business. But when his infamous father is murdered, the family attorney makes a suggestion he can’t ignore: find a bride before the funeral or they’ll force a wedding with a nice Russian gangster girl. When he meets a feisty cocktail waitress, he thinks he’s found his way out.
Faye Tandy is desperately in debt and hard-pressed to find help. Alex’s offer of a phony marriage for a ton of cash couldn’t come at a better time and she’s happy to help him exit the criminal world. The fact that he’s tall, dark, and handsome is an attractive bonus. But when she discovers the Russians have a contract out on her head, she wonders if divorced and bankrupt would be a better choice than rich and dead…
As Faye’s fake feelings for Alex turn real, she’s terrified her trip to the altar might be her last. Will Alex and Faye’s throw of the dice succeed or will they lose the lawless game of love?
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Author Kelly Collins
About the Author
Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive. Always a romantic, she is inspired by real-time events mixed with a dose of fiction. She encourages her readers to reach the happily ever after but bask in the afterglow of the perfectly imperfect love.
Kelly lives in Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her husband of twenty-five years, their two dogs, and a bird that hates her.
In her spare time, she enjoys walking the trails and visiting the mining towns like Cripple Creek. She likes to think it’s the ambience that brings her there and not the amazing slot machine in the back of the casino.
In the winter, you’ll find her tucked into her seat at The World Arena cheering her beloved Colorado College Tigers Hockey Team. After several losing seasons she knows there’s a win coming soon. Kelly is no fair weather fan.
She has three amazing children, and she wonders how they all turned out to be engineers when only the creative side of her brain seems to work. She just chalks it up to the engineering genes her husband contributed to the mix.
Creative minds need an outlet and writing books is where she focuses her excess energy..
Author Candace Knoebel is revealing a teaser from FIVE REASONS TO GO , the second book in her adult contemporary romance duet, Risky Hearts, releasing October 25, 2018. See below for information on the book and series, an exclusive teaser, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR,.
FIVE REASONS TO Go (Risky Hearts Duet #2) by Candace Knoebel
About Book 2 – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: FIVE REASONS TO GO
Series: Risky Hearts Duet #1
Author: Candace Knoebel
Release Date: August 30, 2018
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis One day a week. That was his rule. And it was also our downfall.
My marriage to Hank was one of convenience. When I got pregnant at sixteen, he took me in and kept a roof over my naïve head. We had an agreement—we could sleep with whomever we wanted so long as our children were kept in the dark. It worked great… until it didn’t.
Cocky Jack Swanson was never supposed to be mine. His marriage was open, but his heart was guarded… until he slowly let me in, revealing an alluring man with a painful past. With him, I felt what love could be. I felt wanted… needed. I’d never wanted to fall in love… but then I did.
And now… the rules have changed.
Jack isn’t the same man I fell for. Broken and gutted from his divorce, he’s a shell of who he once was. Sullen and worn down. I know I can bring the good in him back out, if only he’ll let me in. If only he’ll just stay, instead of giving me all his reasons to go.
About the Author Candace Knoebel is a hopeless romantic with an affinity for whiskey and good music. Her love of words began when she met the boy who lived in the cupboard under the stairs, and has found an outlet in over twelve novels.
With two completed series, her work ranges from paranormal to contemporary, all centered heavily around romance. Currently she lives in Florida with her husband and two children, and has just completed her thirteenth novel, The Taste of Her Words.
Welcome to the blog Tour for THE DARK LANDS, the fifth book in the young adult fantasy/romance series, Angelbound Origins, by Christina Bauer. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway. For a limited time, you can pick up the ebook version of ANGELBOUND, book 1 in the series, for free.
THE DARK LANDS (Angelbound Origins #5) by Christina Bauer
Synopsis “This YA paranormal fantasy series is cute, compulsively readable and above all fun.” – The Nocturnal Library Blog
Nineteen-year-old Myla Lewis is loving life–she’s now a wife, mother, and Queen of the Thrax. Oh yeah, and being a super-powerful demigoddess who moves souls into Heaven or Hell doesn’t suck, either. In fact, everything is pretty much awesome. Until something craptastic happens.
Her honorary older brother Walker enters the Dark Lands, home to the rule-loving ghouls, and vanishes without a trace.
Now it’s up to Myla to solve the mystery of Walker’s disappearance. Of course, Myla likes interacting with ghouls about as much as elective dental surgery. To make matters harder, everyone thinks that Walker is simply taking a well-deserved vacation. But Myla and her Angelbound love, Lincoln, both suspect that the ghoul Oligarchy took Walker in order to somehow release Lucifer, the ex-King of the Angels and an all around nut job who really needs to stay locked up.
Long story short, Myla and Lincoln have just two days to rescue their good friend and stop Lucifer from taking over the after-realms. Even for them, this may be a too-tall order, especially when Myla’s own father allows his past friendship with Lucifer to threaten Walker’s future.
“I loved jumping back into the world of Angelbound.” – Mean Who You Are Blog
Perfect for readers who love angels, devils, and demons but want a fresh take on their related fairy tales, myths, and legends. This series combines fierce females, paranormal romance and urban/contemporary fantasy. Enjoy!!.
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt The Viper
I lace my fingers with his and together, Lincoln and I step on the set of Good Morning Purgatory. Immediately, I squint under the heavy lights. Massive cameras the size of water buffalo slowly roll across the floor, taking in me and Lincoln.
My tail pops up over my shoulder to wave at the camera because of course it does. What a ham. I’m part Furor demon, so I have demonic powers over both lust and wrath. My tail is long, black, covered in dragonscales, and all around badass.
Lincoln and I sit in the loveseat across from Becky’s chair. For her part, Becky has short blonde hair, thick-rimmed glasses, and a peacock tail, which tells me her demonic power is pride; it’s a popular sin with people who work in television. Today Becky wears a tweed suit and a predatory smile.
“Welcome, Great Scala and Consort,” says Becky.
“Glad to be here,” I offer.
Lincoln shoots a thumbs-up to the camera. Polls show quasis like it best when he sits there, looks handsome, and doesn’t say much. I thought Lincoln might be offended, but he’s turned it into a game. How long can he go without saying a word? Last interview, he got away with only saying ‘hey nonny nonny’ and that’s it. In case you’re wondering, he was answering a question about the middle ages (his people are stuck in them) and I guess ‘hey nonny nonny’ was a catchphrase back then.
“Let’s start with your baby,” says Becky.
At the mention of the word baby, the studio audience lets out a long ooh. Everybody loves babies. I glance down at the television monitors by my feet. These things are out of camera range, but they’ve been placed so that Lincoln, Becky, and I can see the same things as the viewers at home. The picture of a cherub-like Maxon comes on the screen. My boy is all big eyes, chubby belly, and toothless smile.
“Maxon is so precious,” coos Becky. She adjusts her glasses and pulls up a clipboard from beside her chair. I’ve seen that clipboard raising routine before.
Danger sign. Ambush ahead.
“This just in.” Becky holds up her clipboard. “The criminal called the Viper has somehow broken into the supernatural prison of none other than Lucifer.” The studio audience gasps. “Once there, the Viper poisoned one of the guards. It won’t be long before Lucifer escapes. Isn’t that right?”
Lincoln and I share a confused look. “The Great Scala and I have received no such information. Are you certain it’s valid?”
“We received this data from a ghoul named WKR-7,” explains Becky. “He’s supposed to be very reliable.”
“Walker?” It’s an effort not to screech the name. “You got this intel from Walker?”
“Why yes,” answers Becky. “Have you heard of him?”
“He’s my honorary older brother and Lincoln’s best friend.”
“Then you know this information is valid and the threat is real. Need I remind you why Lucifer was jailed? Roll it, Fred.”
Again, fresh video shows on the screen. This time, angels in silver armor fly across a gray sky, their swords held high. These warriors swoop and dive over a retreating crowd of ghouls, quasis, and humans. Angels ruthlessly cut down the innocents. Blood is everywhere. Text at the bottom of the screen says ‘re-enacted history’ but that won’t matter to most. The facts are true, even if the footage is faked up. Lucifer was a bloodthirsty maniac.
Becky rounds on me. “Now, what do you say? How will you save us when the Viper releases Lucifer?”
I have no idea what to say, but I do know what to think.
About the Author
Christina Bauer knows how to tell stories about kick-ass women. In her best selling Angelbound series, the heroine is a part-demon girl who loves to fight in Purgatory’s Arena and falls in love with a part-angel prince. This young adult best seller has driven more than 500,000 ebook downloads and 9,000 reviews on Goodreads and retailers.
Bauer has also told the story of the Women’s March on Washington by leading PR efforts for the Massachusetts Chapter. Her pre-event press release—the only one sent out on a major wire service—resulted in more than 19,000 global impressions and redistribution by over 350 different media entities including the Associated Press.
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and semi-insane golden retriever, Ruby..
Today is release day for JUST ONE LOVE, the sixth book in the new adult contemporary romance/romantic comedy series, Black Alcove, by Jami Wagner. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Yet, here I am, doing him another favor so he can get what he wants—maybe then I can dislodge him from my heart.
There’s an emptiness in my life.
Yet I have everything I need, or at least, I thought I did.
It was supposed to be a simple deal between friends. Friends? Yeah, right. I should have known we’re too volatile for that.
.
.
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt I jump down and grab my knife, but asbut as I pull back in what should be the segue into my quick getaway run—dramatic, smooth, commanding, just like in the movies—I’m jerked back.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
The knife is stuck.
“Abby, let’s go!” Beth snaps at me. She’s crouched behind the truck where they can’t see her. “I cannot believe that I trusted that you were going to break up with him like a normal person. Let’s go.”
“I’m trying,” I shush back, jerking again on the damn knife.
“Just leave it.”
“It has my initials on it.”
A gift from my mom for my eighteenth birthday. She knows me so well. Not.
“What the … seriously?” Beth moves around to the tire and pushes me out of the way. I duck when Jace’s ball cap comes into view over the back of the truck. Then, Beth and I yank on the knife together.
Nothing happens.
“Let me drive!” Tyler shouts.
“Dude, what the fuck is your deal? It’s my truck. I’ll drive.”
“But I’m thinking of getting one just like it, and I need to test drive something.” Tyler’s response is quick.
“Dude, whatever,” Jace replies as I see the keys flying through the air, right before Tyler comes into view.
“What the fuck are you doing, Abby?” he says through the side of his lips. I barely see his mouth move.
“Trying to leave. What does it look like?” I whisper frantically.
“Whoops!” Tyler drops the keys. He kneels in front of the tire and jerks the knife out in one swift move.
Damn.
His white T-shirt hugs his bicep, and, oh boy, he looks good tonight. I mean, he’s always had the whole Liam Hemsworth thing going on, but tonight he looks even hotter than a movie star. His hair is the perfect dirty blonde and his eyes are brightest green I’ve ever seen. Don’t even get me started on his smile. Shoot, any girl would agree to whatever he wanted just to see it one more time. I would know. I’ve been that girl.
Tyler gives the knife to me and mouths “run.” We don’t hesitate in the slightest.
I tuck the knife into my back pocket as I duck to run. The tire is successfully slashed, and I’m not leaving any evidence of my crime at the scene.
Hunching behind her car, Beth shoots daggers from her eyes as she stares at me. The look is so intense, I need something else to focus on.
Yes, this crack on the sidewalk is a nice distraction.
“I can’t believe you,” she seethes.
“It’s fine. No one saw us but Tyler,” I say just as Jace begins shouting a string of curses.
Jackass.
“I should have known you were going to do something crazy tonight. You made breaking up sound so simple,” Beth adds.
I shrug and then we both hunker down tighter when the lights of Tyler’s truck flash our way. I crawl around the front of the car and watch them turn the corner.
Then, I start to laugh.
Beth is still glaring at me. Only now she’s standing with her hands on her hips and looking at me like my mom would when I’d come home past curfew, before she decided she didn’t want anything to do with me.
The whole picture makes me laugh even harder. Slowly, Beth’s lips begin to tug into a smile.
“You are out of control,” she says and unlocks her car.
About the Author JAMI WAGNER was born in Wyoming. Still living in the Cowboy State, Jami and her husband are currently writing their own love story with their yellow Lab.
Jami enjoys writing New Adult and published her debut novella, Date in the Dark, in 2015. Her first full-length novel, Just One Kiss, was published in October 2015 and is the first book in her Black Alcove series. The next three in the series, Just One Night, Just One Touch, and Just One Moment are available now.
Jami enjoys writing New Adult and published her debut novella Date in the Dark in 2015.
Today is release day for FINDING FATE, a stand-alone adult romantic suspense, by Kennedy L. Mitchell. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive teaser.
Synopsis Three men hunt her. Two eager to harm and one desperate to save. Who will get to her first?
FINDING FATE is a sexy, standalone romantic suspense where love grows in the most unlikely of places.
Master hacker Fate Haley has one objective on her mind – vengeance. A year after an unthinkable tragedy destroys her family, Fate has the two men responsible in her sights and a plan in place to ensure they won’t slip through the CIA’s fingers again. At the edge of insanity, Fate’s prepared to risk it all until he slips in one dark night set on saving her.
Nash Bartley enjoys his new gig with the Contract Special Operations team. The constant travel and dangerous missions keep distance between him and any potential long-term relationship. He’s done that before and swore he’ll never do it again. Until the woman he’s sent to rescue blindsides his heart, altering his outlook on love and the future.
Attraction sizzles the moment the two meet and affection blooms during the long humid nights in the African jungle. When the evil zeroes in, Nash is forced to sacrifice a piece of himself to protect the woman he’s grown to love. But will it be enough to save them both?
Can this unlikely duo abandon their wounded pasts and let go of their secrets for a chance at a happily ever after?
About the Author Kennedy lives in Dallas with her husband, son, and 80lb Goldendoodle who still believes he’s a lap dog. A bookworm at heart, Kennedy loves to snuggle up in bed or by the campfire with an unputdownable book. She began writing two years ago with Falling for the Chance and has no plans of stopping. Her novels are witty, action-packed, and offer enough steam for a great facial. If you like strong heroines and sexy, tattooed men who can’t keep their hands off them, then this author is the one for you.
Today is release day for AFTER THE END, a stand-alone new adult contemporary romance, by #1 New York Times bestselling author, Natasha Preston. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive teaser.
Synopsis One fatal mistake changes Tilly and Linc’s lives forever.
After the tragedy, Linc and his family fled a town they were no longer welcome in.
Still grieving the death of her brother, Tilly’s world is rocked again when, three years later, Lincoln Reid has to come home.
Linc tries to stay away from Tilly, but once he sees her fighting feelings for him, he can’t stay in the shadows.
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Author Natasha Preston
About the Author UK native Natasha Preston grew up in small villages and towns. She discovered her love of writing when she stumbled across an amateur writing site and uploaded her first story and hasn’t looked back since.
She enjoys writing contemporary romance, gritty Young Adult thrillers and, of course, the occasional serial killer.
Today is release day for MY KINDA WEDDING, the seventh book in the adult contemporary romance series, Summer Sisters, by Amazon bestselling author, Lacey Black. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
MY KINDA WEDDING (Summer Sisters #7) by Lacey Black
Synopsis You are cordially invited to celebrate the marriage of Meghan Summer to Nicholas Adams, D.D.S. at four o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the sixth of May at the beachside home of Alison Jane and Sawyer Randall Reception to follow
The Summer family comes together once more as the final sister prepares to tie the knot. Take a journey with each couple, from the rehearsal to the reception, and the wedding in between. And don’t forget about the grandparents! You never know what they’ll have up their sleeves…
*This book is a 25,000-word novella that would be enjoyed best after reading My Kinda Forever, Summer Sisters book 6. Though part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone. It is intended for those 18 and over due to graphic language, descriptive sex, and the world’s most inappropriate grandparents.
—————————————————————————–
—————————————————————————–
Excerpt The moment I see her, I feel something so profound, so completely in my heart that it just makes everything right in the world.
It’s her.
Stunning.
Breathtaking.
That’s the only way to describe the incredible woman who now stands at my side.
I grab her hand as soon as she’s within reach and bring it to my lips. There’s a slight tremble, though I’m not sure if it’s her hand or mine. Probably both. She looks up at me with so much excitement, so much happiness, that I don’t pay any attention to the man standing in front of me, speaking.
I should probably pay attention, right?
But I can’t.
I only see her.
My Meghan.
“Repeat after me.”
And I do. I say the words, feeling them with every fiber of my being, as I vow to stand by her side, to love and protect her, till death do us part. It’s an easy proclamation to make, since it’s nothing but the truth. Her eyes fill with tears as she repeats the same vows as me, but she never wavers, never falters.
About the Author Lacey Black is a Midwestern girl with a passion for reading, writing, and shopping. She carries her e-reader with her everywhere she goes so she never misses an opportunity to read a few pages. Always looking for a happily ever after, Lacey is passionate about contemporary romance novels and enjoys it further when you mix in a little suspense. She resides in a small town in Illinois with her husband, two children, and a chocolate lab. Lacey loves watching NASCAR races, shooting guns, and should only consume one mixed drink because she’s a lightweight.
Lacey’s debut novel, Trust Me, was released in August 2014 and has been an Amazon Bestseller twice for Free e-books, as well as #1 for Contemporary Romance. All of the Rivers Edge books have been bestsellers in the Romance and Contemporary Romance categories.
Today is release day for LOST IN BLISS, the fourth book in the adult contemporary romance series, Nights in Bliss, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake writing as Sophia Oak. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
LOST IN BLISS (Nights in Bliss #4) by Lexi Blake Writing as Sophie Oak
Synopsis Laura Niles walked out the door and never looked back. As she left Washington, DC, her career was in ruins and her love life decimated. Her desperate flight eventually led her to Bliss, Colorado, where she managed to find a new home and a little peace. That will have to be enough because Laura cannot imagine finding happiness without the men she left behind.
For five years, Rafe Kincaid and Cameron Briggs have searched for the only woman they ever loved. When she disappeared, everything became crystal clear. For one night, everything had been perfect and instead of embracing what they had found, they let it all slip away. They had let worries about their FBI careers and what others might think destroy the most precious gift they had ever been given. Now they have finally tracked her down, and they want answers.
Laura is shocked when her former loves show up in her new home. When the full force of the FBI arrives with them, Laura knows that the quirky little town is in for a rough ride. The killer that ruined her life has been watching and waiting for the opportunity to strike again. For Rafe, Cam, and Laura it’s time for second chances — to stop a monster, and to reclaim everything they lost.
—————————————————————————
—————————————————————————
Excerpt Rafe didn’t miss the way Laura’s body went still, her muscles stiffening where a moment before she’d been laughing with her friends. She changed the second she became aware of them. It wasn’t the greeting he would prefer. Back when they were friends, when she would see him coming, her whole body would go soft and a welcoming smile would transform her face from something professional to an intimate visage, one only meant for someone close to her. He’d taken great pride in the fact that he’d only ever seen that look on her face for one other person.
“Hello, bella.”
She frowned at him. Even with her lips turned down, she was stunning. She looked only slightly out of place in her yellow heels. The rest of her outfit was charmingly Western. She had on a full cotton skirt, a yellow tank top, and a light denim jacket. It wasn’t far off from what many of the other women were wearing, yet Laura made it seem elegant. Everything she did had an air of grace to it, even when she was bitching at him.
“I thought I asked you to stop calling me that.”
He wasn’t going to let her push him. He gave her what he hoped was an easy smile. “And I asked you to stop calling me asshole. I doubt you’ve done that. Dance with me.”
Her eyes widened, a look of horror crossing her face. “No.”
“Come on, baby. Don’t say no.” Cam crowded her, but she held her ground. Those heels were planted firmly in the grass beneath her. “I can’t dance with you until you dance with him. I lost the coin flip.”
“Oh, that’s romantic.” Her hands found her hips, and those gorgeously full lips pursed. “Every woman in the world wants to be won by the flip of a coin.”
“We didn’t have time to play cards,” Rafe admitted. He was well aware that people were listening in. Oh, they were pretending to be doing other things, but they leaned over and then talked behind their hands. The citizens of Bliss seemed to be enjoying the drama. Damn, he couldn’t get used to it. In DC, no one paid a bit of attention to what was going on around them. He tried to ignore it. “We weren’t sure how else to handle it, bella. You have to teach us.”
Her lips rose in a sarcastic grin. “See, that’s easy. Let me teach you how to handle a situation like this. You both turn around and walk out the way you came in. You get in your car and drive to Alamosa and get on a plane back to DC.”
Cam sighed. “That’s not going to happen.”
Cam ran a hand up her arm, and Rafe was satisfied with the way she shivered. She still responded to Cam. Would she respond to him? He reached out and took her hand, studying it. Her hand was small in his, her skin fair against his olive tone. Her nails weren’t as long as she used to keep them, but they were still manicured and painted a pretty pink. “Come on and dance with me. We came all this way. We’ve looked for so long. Can’t you spare a moment of your time? I promise to behave.”
He wouldn’t behave. He had every intention of reminding her of the chemistry they’d had, but he wasn’t going to announce it.
“Fine.” She pushed off of the picnic table she’d been leaning against. “One dance and that’s all.”
“With both of us,” Cam added quickly, pushing the advantage. “It’s only fair. Otherwise, we’ll both dance with you here and now.”
There it was. Rafe’s heart soared. Her eyes had flared momentarily, and it wasn’t with disgust. When they had checked into the odd motel at the edge of town, they had decided it would be best to come at her together. She’d been turned on by sex with both of them. They needed to remind her of what they had to offer.
—————————————————————————
.
—————————————————————————
Author Lexi Blake
About the Author NY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
Welcome to the blog tour for AMERICAN ASSHOLE, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Bachelor International, by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tara Sue Me. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
AMERICAN ASSHOLE (Bachelor International #1) by Tara Sue Me
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: AMERICAN ASSHOLE Series: Bachelor International #1 Author: Tara Sue Me Release Date: September 17, 2018 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis He’s a self proclaimed bastard with a double helping of lying asshole.
From the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of the acclaimed SUBMISSIVE Series comes the first book in a new series perfect for fans of Helena Hunting and Maya Banks.
Mia Matthews never thought much of big shot matchmaker Tenor Butler, but when she finds out he loaned her late business partner a quarter of a million dollars and no one told her, there aren’t enough four letter words to describe him. She’d like nothing more than to pretend Tenor doesn’t exist, but she owes him all that money, not to mention he’s hot as hell.
Tenor doesn’t see why it’s his fault Mia didn’t know about the loan. In fact, he thinks he’s being very magnanimous when he offers to forgive the loan if Mia closes her own matchmaking business and works for him for five years. But as he gets closer to Mia, he realizes two things: 1) he doesn’t want her as an employee and 2) she hates his guts.
When an old flame threatens them both, Mia and Tenor find themselves working together and are unable to ignore their mutual attraction. But it might be too late for these two romance experts to create their own love story.
This is a standalone romance. No cliffhanger.
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #3 I didn’t stop by to see Mia until near the end of her first day in the office. It was a dick move on my part and I knew it, but all day I kept thinking about how well we were getting along until she signed the employment contract. I couldn’t get the thought out of my head that hiring her had been a bad decision. I was too attracted to her and since I couldn’t do anything about it, avoidance seemed the best way to go.
My opinion on hiring her didn’t change very much seeing her sitting in an office that I owned. Yes, I decided. I’d fucked up and fucked up bad. Her back was to the door because she wasn’t sitting at her desk, but standing and facing a back wall. After a second or two, I realized that she was hanging pictures.
“Do you need help?” I asked, coming through the door.
Unfortunately, I startled her and she somehow managed to hit her finger with the hammer instead of the nail.
“Ow! Shit!” She shook her hand while glaring at me, and then she stuck her thumb in her mouth. “What?” She asked around her thumb.
Good lord, the sight of her thumb in her mouth and every thought in my head left until the only things I could think about were her mouth, my dick, and introducing the two of them. “I stopped by to see how you were doing, saw you and asked if you needed help.”
She pulled her thumb out of her mouth with a pop. Fucking hell. “As you can see,” she said with a wave of her hand. Everything about her was cold, even her voice was frosty. “I managed to hang three others without your help and was doing perfectly fine with the fourth until you came by.”
It had been wrong of me to not stop by earlier in the day to see and speak with her. Whatever camaraderie we had managed to achieve the day before, I’d shot straight to hell in less than twenty hours.
In some hard-to-imagine universe, I supposed it could be seen as a good thing. From the expression on her face, I couldn’t see her ever agreeing to dinner again. Flirting looked just about as improbable.
And yet…
I still felt the same. Whatever her feelings for me were, they had not changed mine for her. I wanted her. “I should have been by earlier and helped you with the other three,” I said.
“What?” She still held a hammer in her hand, I noted with a bit of unease. “Why would it ever occur to you to stop by and help me hang pictures? How could that thought cross your mind when you couldn’t even stop by my office to say good morning, so glad to have you here, or screw you, on the way to your own office? Which, I might add, is no more than ten steps from here.”
A quick glance at her desk showed Sara had given her our policy books to read. But yes, not stopping by earlier was clearly a mistake. That, at least, was now perfectly clear. It hit me at that moment, I could lie and make up a story about having a meeting. No doubt, she’d see straight through that since I’d already used it once before. Or, option two, I could tell her the truth.
But as I stood there looking at her, I couldn’t see her taking it well that I had feelings for her and that I was questioning my decision to bring her onboard. So, I went with option three, landing somewhere between options one and two.
“I agree I should have made it a point to stop by sooner. In fact, I’d planned to do that very thing. But as I walked into the building today, I also knew it’d be your first day working for someone else. I wasn’t sure you wanted to see me.” It wasn’t a complete lie. I had thought that as I entered the building, but it hadn’t been the deciding factor for me.
Regardless of that fact, her expression had lost some if its ire and she watched me with slightly less anger. Heavy emphasis on the slightly.
She placed the hammer on her desk. “What exactly are you saying?”
“Please forgive me for being completely clueless. I’d say it wouldn’t happen again, but I’m sure it will and I don’t want to lie.”
More of her anger fell away. “Okay,” she said. “You’re forgiven. But only this once. Don’t take this as precedence.”
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Author Tara Sue Me
About the Author Tara Sue Me wrote her first novel at the age of twelve. It would be twenty years before she picked up her pen to write the second.
After completing several clean romances, she decided to try her hand at something spicier and started The Submissive. What began as a writing exercise quickly took on a life of its own. An avid reader of all types of fiction, she soon discovered she enjoyed writing a variety as well.
Tara lives in the Southeastern United States with her family, two dogs, and a cat.
Welcome to the book blitz for KISSED OFF, a stand-alone young adult comedy/mystery/romance, by Tellulah Darling. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Now the only question is: does this count as a date?
Sixteen-year-old Reiko Mori’s family has clashed with the Markows in a clandestine search for the famed Lover’s Kiss Ruby, ever since their ancestors killed each other over it centuries ago in Japan. Now, after pulling off a successful museum heist, Reiko’s finally going to be the one who finds the jewel. Even better? She’s just arranged a study date with hot-but-sheltered sculptor Levi Green to work on their English project. Things are looking good.
Until a mysterious third party attacks Reiko and Levi, intent on stealing her clues to the ruby. Until Reiko discovers the Lover’s Kiss is actually in Europe, an ocean away. And until goofy, affable Levi Green turns out to be Levi Markow, mortal enemy number one.
Plan B it is: reluctantly team up with Levi to find the priceless gem before the shadowy and deadly group on the jewel’s trail finds it first.
And if history is gonna repeat itself with the kissing, running, and screwing over, see which one of them comes out on top.
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt Levi rubbed his arm, his expression wary. “Reiko Mori, I presume.”
“‘I presume?’” Reiko dropped into a fighter’s crouch. “You’re missing the British accent.”
Levi put his hands up in a pathetic imitation of defensive position. Her cat could have landed a punch through those gaps. “And you’re missing the reality where we aren’t about to have an MMA showdown.”
Reiko smirked but lowered her hands. “Because I’d wipe the floor with your ass.”
“Says Hit-Girl masquerading as the resident shy chick all these years. Nice James Bond alter ego you got going on.”
“I am shy.” She grabbed a dishtowel and whipped it at his head. It fluttered to the counter, far short of its mark.
Levi snorted.
“Being around my sworn enemies tends to knock it out of me. Besides, you’re one to talk, Artsy Boy. Had everyone fooled.” Including stupid me. She pushed him backwards out of the kitchen, shoving him again and again until his back hit the wall next to the front door.
Levi fended off her next blow. The sweep of his arm knocking her hands away left behind a familiar faint hint of rubbing alcohol. She’d watched him use it to remove clay from his hands at school many times. Could she be more pathetically tuned into this guy?
Levi held out his hand, palm up. “Hand over the locket, sweetheart. The real one this time.”
“Sweetheart?” She pulled herself up to her full height. “Could you be more stereotypical bad guy?”
“He could have a mustachio to twirl,” Aviva said, from her avid spectator spot hanging over the bannister.
“True,” Reiko said.
Levi rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not the one blowing kisses before screwing people over. That a move passed down through the generations with you chicks? Think that adds weight to my family being the wronged party here, Mata Hari.”
“Mata…? Argh!” She snatched up the poker.
“Go ahead, brain me.” Levi turned out his pockets in a huff. “No ruby. Just lint. I’d hate you to pointlessly commit murder except, oh yeah. You Moris are bloodthirsty!”
“Better a bloodthirsty Mori than a cowardly, backstabbing Markow!” Reiko jabbed the poker at him.
Levi grabbed the other end, the two of them engaged in a furious tug-of-war for possession. He let go suddenly, sending Reiko staggering back a few steps
Reiko flung open the door and pointed outside. With the poker. “Get. Out.”
Levi held his ground for a minute but must have decided she meant business because he grabbed his shoes. “This isn’t over.”
“You’ll get the locket over my dead body, Lion Cub.”
“Great! Can’t wait to pry it out of your cold, rigor-mortised hands,” he snapped, and stomped out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
“Shit,” said Aviva, “this is really gonna put a crimp in your dating plans.”
—————————————————————————-
Author Tellulah Darling
About the Author Tellulah Darling
noun
1) YA & New Adult romantic comedy author because her first kiss sucked and she’s compensating.
2) Firm believer that some of the best stories happen when love meets comedy and awkwardness ensues.
3) Sassy minx.
Both a hopeless romantic and total cynic, Tellulah Darling is all about the happily-ever-after, with a huge dose of hilarity along the way. Her romcoms come in a variety of heat levels and flavors; straight up romantic comedy, shaken with Greek mythology or stirred with urban fantasy.
Today is release day for RESTLESS INK,the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, Colorado Springs, a spin-off of the Montgomery Ink series, by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Carrie Ann Ryan. See below for information the book and series, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
RESTLESS INK (Colorado Springs #2) by Carrie Ann Ryan
Synopsis The Montgomery Ink series continues with the so-called sensible sister and the one man she never should have fallen for.
For Thea Montgomery, baking isn’t only therapeutic, it’s also her dream job. She’s worked countless hours keeping her bakery afloat, and now that it’s where she wants it to be, she’s ready to expand and take the next step. When it comes to work and her family, she’s on top of her game. Her personal life, however, is a different story.
When Dimitri Carr isn’t teaching and hiding his ink under long sleeves to keep the bosses happy, he’s trying to be the best brother and friend he can be. After his divorce, he’d thought he would lose Thea from his life forever because she’s his ex-wife’s best friend. But now that he’s free, and the two of them realize they want to keep their friendship. Then he finally sees what he’s been missing all this time.
But there are more problems than the fact that Dimitri is Thea’s best friend’s ex. And when accidental touches and flirtations aren’t enough for either of them, and they’re finally ready to take the next step, they’ll find out exactly what that cost is for crossing that line. And will need to find the strength to face it..
—————————————————————————-
—————————————————————————-
Excerpt #1 “Hey,” Dimitri said quietly when her eyes widened at the sight of him.
“Hey.” She swallowed hard. “You haven’t been into the shop in… well, it’s been a while.”
He smiled, knowing the awkward feeling between them came from his speech the other night in the parking lot. He missed Thea, damn it. She’d been his friend too, and for all her saying she wouldn’t take sides in the divorce, they’d each pulled away from each other for Molly’s sake. And now he had a feeling he’d made the wrong choice.
He didn’t have many friends, not anymore. Most had been his and Molly’s, and a lot of them had gone to her. He’d understood since they were in different social and financial circles than he was, and most had been in Molly’s crowd long before Dimitri met her. But other than his family, he didn’t have as many people in his life as he would like.
And he missed his friend.
“I told you I’d try to be by more. For the cake.”
She rolled her eyes. “You sure love your sweets. I have no idea how you stay so built.” She blushed, and Dimitri chuckled before raising his brow. “You’re a baker, and I can say the same about you.” She rolled her eyes. “The skinny baker schtick is freaking annoying. I’m not skinny. I have curves. And I work my ass off to keep them. Plus, you know, there’s only so many bites of brownies in my life I can deal with.”
He resisted the urge to look down at her ass at the mention of her curves. Thankfully, she was angled away so that he couldn’t see, but still.
“Speaking of brownies…”
“I have four kinds left today. We had a fifth, but I underestimated this city’s love of marshmallows.”
“Marshmallows? I missed marshmallows.”
She laughed. “Yeah, about ten minutes ago.”
“Damn it, I should have brought Captain with me so I didn’t miss it.”
Her expression softened at the mention of his golden. “I miss him so much. I don’t get to see him nearly as often as I would like.”
“Same.”
She winced. “I’m sorry. That has to suck.”
“Pretty much. But I’m still looking for a place that lets in big dogs.”
“I’ll keep an eye out, as well. I’m sure one of the Montgomerys will be able to find one for you. We’re good at things like that.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
The light flickered above her, and she let out a curse.
“Need help with that?”
“No, I have it. It’s that damn light bulb. I switched it out a month ago, and it’s already going out again. Meaning, I need to find an electrician. I can probably call one of my cousins who are the only ones I trust since it’s their job and they’re the best, but it’s still a pain in the ass.”
She went about getting him a caramel brownie without him even having to ask since, yes, he’d go for caramel if marshmallow wasn’t available. Then she set about working on a vanilla latte for him. Apparently, she knew him better than he remembered. “How late do you work tonight?” he asked as she handed him his order.
“I close tonight since I didn’t open. But not too much longer.” Something beeped behind her, and she turned, bent over, and reached to tap something on the counter.
He blinked and did his best not to look at her, not to stare. And that’s when he knew he was screwed. Because he hadn’t been able to get her out of his head, and she was the one person he shouldn’t be looking at.
He wanted her as his friend. Nothing more.
And nothing less.
“I don’t close tomorrow, though.” He blinked as she turned back to him, biting her lip. “And you were right about the whole being friends things. We were friends before you got married, and I miss you, too.” She swallowed hard. “So, anyway, I’m having a family and friends game night at my house. Silly games and lots of snacks and booze because… why not. Do you want to come?”
He let out a breath. “I might have plans with my brother. I have to see what he’s thinking for tonight, and then I’ll let you know. But, Thea? Thanks for the invite.”
She smiled. “I hope you can come, but I understand if you can’t. It’s at seven at my place. Show up if you can.”
And with that, he paid for his snack and headed out of the shop, the image of her very pert backside firmly in his mind. He couldn’t help but want to kick himself. That was not how to keep being her friend, damn it.
And the sooner he got that through his thick skull, the better. Because Thea Montgomery was only his friend. That was all she’d ever been. He’d never thought about her in any other way before this, and he wouldn’t start now.
About the Author Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Talon Pack, and Gallagher Brothers series, which have sold over 2.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over fifty novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not writing about bearded tattooed men or alpha wolves that need to find their mates, she’s reading as much as she can and exploring the world of baking and gourmet cooking.
.
