Author Josie Kerr is revealing a teaser from UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, the second book in her adult contemporary romance series, Give Me Shelter, releasing December 13, 2018. See below for information on the book, pre-order links, and an exclusive teaser.
UNTIL THE NEXT TIME (Give Me Shelter #2) by Josie Kerr
Synopsis Meghan Sullivan doesn’t have time for distractions, especially one like handsome veteran Jason Richards. She needs to concentrate on saving Foley’s Public House, and that means focusing all her energy on preparing for a huge local event that could make or break the struggling pub.
Jason Richards has a long history with Meghan. The two had been friends with benefits until Meghan put an end to things when her father got ill. Now Jason spends his time with his brothers, both blood and military, but wonders what would have happened if he’d gotten his act together earlier.
When outside forces conspire against Meghan, she reluctantly turns to Jason for help. The two vow to keep things professional, but serious chemistry and years of bottled up emotions make it impossible for them to keep their distance. When the actions against Meghan turn personal, Jason will do everything in his power to keep her safe.
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Author Josie Kerr
About the Author Josie Kerr is a transplanted West Texan now living on the edge of both metro Atlanta and North Georgia Mountains.
She has an M.Ed. in Secondary English Education, but discovered that she hated high school more the second time than she did the first, so she decided to meld her love of technology with her education background and became an Instructional Designer. When not writing articles about how to fire someone without getting sued or why you should really not apply for jobs using your SexxyStud99@aol.com email address, she writes steamy romance novels that feature grown-up Heroes and Heroines.
Author Lee Piper is revealing an exclusive excerpt from AS YOU WERE, the second book in her adult contemporary romance series, Rising Star, releasing December 7, 2018. See below for information on the book and series, pre-order links, and the excerpt excerpt.
Love is a dark, broken man with whiskey-colored eyes. Love is knowing he will never return my feelings. It is the final chord of a guitar riff as it bleeds into silence.
Love is Zeke Danton.
I convinced myself I needed him. I thought there was no one better to record my debut album with…
I was wrong.
Encased in layers of ice, he wears his pain like a protective shield.
Wanting what I can’t have might ruin me. But so help me, I crave his destruction..
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AS YOU WERE (Rising Star #2) by Lee Piper (Full Cover)
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Excerpt The elevator ride is beyond tense. Zeke refuses to look at me, yet won’t let go of my hand, while I try not to yank him close and trace his scowl lines with my tongue. I keep reminding myself he’s not mine to touch, that I have no right to want a man who has been a jerk to me. But my body won’t hear of it. It wants what it wants, and for some stupid reason, it wants Zeke. A lot.
My mind, however, is adamant. Are you crazy, Wil? Don’t let the guy touch you. Step away from the sexy man. Now.
I try to ease out of his clasp, but his hold tightens. Giving up far too quickly, I sigh, frustrated by my quick submission.
When we step into the hallway, Zeke leads me toward the apartment Drake and I are sharing. He punches in the code and opens the door. Finally letting go of me, he points to the couch. “Sit.”
“I’m fine. Give me five minutes to make myself a snack and I’ll be good to go.”
With a low growl, he slams the door shut behind me. I jump. Zeke shifts his body until I’m pushed against the cold wood and he is standing a hairsbreadth away. His hands rest on either side of my head. Craning my neck, I take in his thunderous expression. Something about the barely veiled ferocity calls to me. It dares me to step closer, spread my arms, and dance in the tempest.
I’ve always loved storms, and this man is a storm personified.
Tingles break out on my skin. My heart pounds against my chest as deviant fingers itch to reach out and cup his strong jawline. I want to press my lips to his. I want to taste his tongue, his mouth, his soul. I want him to gift that essential part of him, so I can keep it safely locked away for eternity. But I won’t. It’s not mine to take, and he’s not a man who’d give it anyway.
Zeke’s low growl snaps me from my reverie. “When I tell you to do something, you do it. Don’t argue, don’t question, just get it fucking done. Understand?”
Rather than intimidate me, his dominance triggers a tension that has no place between us. A warmth swells in my belly, heat rushes to my cheeks, and desire fuels my movements. Tipping my chin up, I narrow my eyes, daring him to bark directives again.
Beside me, Zeke’s hands curl into fists. For a long moment, we stare at each other, the standoff growing, building, morphing into a tangible being. Heat and annoyance war on his face. I’m transfixed by the interplay—couldn’t look away if I tried.
Without warning, he wrenches from the wall and marches to the kitchen. My eyes, traitorous heathens, follow him the whole way.
About the Author Lee Piper is a lover of books. She often juggles reading seven novels at a time for the sheer joy of it. When not writing, she is either reading, at the beach, or eating her body weight in chocolate.
Lee Piper’s debut novel, Rock My World became a bestseller and was a Raven Award finalist for Favorite Contemporary Romance and Favorite Cover. Her second novel, Rock My Body, was voted Best Book by LASR Readers and was a finalist in the 2017 Readers’ Choice Award. Lie to Me, Book #1 in the Rising Star series was reached number seventy-eight in the 2018 Goodreads Readers’ Choice Award.
Lee Piper lives in South Australia, with her drummer husband, cheeky daughters, and neurotic dog.
Welcome to the release week blitz for PAPER GIRL, a stand-alone young adult contemporary romance,by Cindy R. Wilson. See below for information the book, buy links, and details on her giveaway. Be sure to check back on December 4 for my review!
Synopsis I haven’t left my house in over a year. My doctor says it’s social anxiety, but I know the only things that are safe are made of paper. My room is paper. My world is paper. Everything outside is fire. All it would take is one spark for me to burst into flames. So I stay inside. Where nothing can touch me.
Then my mom hires a tutor. Jackson. This boy I had a crush on before the world became too terrifying to live in. Jackson’s life is the complete opposite of mine, and I can tell he’s got secrets of his own. But he makes me feel things. Makes me want to try again. Makes me want to be brave. I can almost taste the outside world. But so many things could go wrong, and all it takes is one spark for everything I love to disappear…
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Author Cindy R. Wilson
About the Author Cindy lives at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and loves using Colorado towns and cities as inspiration for settings in her stories. She’s the mother of three girls, who provide plenty of fodder for her YA novels. Cindy writes speculative fiction and YA fiction, filled with a healthy dose of romance. You’ll often find her hiking or listening to any number of playlists while she comes up with her next story idea.
Welcome to the book blitz for FORGOTTEN GHOSTS,the eighth book in the adult fantasy/paranormal series, Vesik, by Eric R. Asher. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on his giveaway.
FORGOTTEN GHOSTS (Vesik #8) by Eric R. Asher
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: FORGOTTEN GHOSTS Series: Vesik #8 Author: Eric R. Asher Release Date: November 13, 2018 Genre: Adult Fantasy/Paranormal Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis A necromancer’s fear. A family’s fate. An ancient spirit with a new alliance.
I shouldn’t have told myself things couldn’t get any worse. They did.
As Nixie struggles to unite the water witches, the Fae king discovers a spy in his ranks. We’re forced to split our focus and our powers between the unrest in Faerie and the rising tensions in Falias. When Nudd’s latest gambit puts humanity’s most dangerous weapons into his hands, we can’t let anything stand in our way. We’ll need help from new contacts and trusted allies if we hope to stop the Fae king’s madness.
But the award for worst timing in history goes to an old friend: Vicky.
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Excerpt #2 At first, the mass appeared to be a wall of snakes, surging out from one of the cells and splattering against the far wall. But instead of a wet thump, the shadowy forms cracked into the very stone. Among the undulating mass of slithering things, I heard the fall of rock and metal clattering across the floor.
I tried to concentrate on my footing, careful not to twist an ankle, as we attempted to outrun the massive shadows. A moment later, the dullahan’s eyes disappeared in the distance, and those snakelike forms broke into a halo of light. As they crossed through, I could see they were caked in mud, blood, and other viscera I couldn’t identify. One thing I was sure of: they weren’t snakes.
“What is that?” I shouted.
Morrigan glowed. Between one step and the next, the crone became the raven, and she rocketed forward on oily black wings. “Burn them!” the bird squawked.
Throwing an incantation while running was a sure way to miss your target. But one thing Zola had taught me was if you threw a large-enough ball of fire in an enclosed space, you didn’t really need to aim. “Magnus Ignatto!”
I stumbled as the power ripped through me. I felt what was left of the hairs on my arms burn to a crisp. Morrigan, almost distant now, made the turn through the intersection and flew up the stairs. She’d be safe from the heat, though I wasn’t sure if she was susceptible to fire incantations. The chaotic wall of flame shot forward at irregular intervals until it crashed into the writhing mass of what now looked very much like lampreys or dying gray vines draped in gore and dripping blood I suspected was from our allies.
Whatever they were, they were sentient. The instant the flames hit and widened to the point that I couldn’t see down the hallway through the fire and pain in my arms, something else screamed. It wasn’t immediately recognizable as pain, as the sound was so deep and basso it took me a moment to understand the earth wasn’t shaking around me. I let the fires die away and gasped for breath as I stumbled forward, making my way for the staircase as the soles of my boots sizzled on the superheated stone beneath them.
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Author Eric Asher
About the Author Eric is a former bookseller, cellist, and comic seller currently living in Saint Louis, Missouri. A lifelong enthusiast of books, music, toys, and games, he discovered a love for the written word after being dragged to the library by his parents at a young age. When he is not writing, you can usually find him reading, gaming, or buried beneath a small avalanche of Transformers.
Author Jennifer Woodhull is unveiling the cover to THE DATING ALTERNATIVE, a stand-alone adult contemporary romance, releasing December 26, 2018. See below for the cover, information on the book, and preorder links.
Synopsis She’s so over dating. He wants to be her alternative.
Max has crushed on Brie for as long as he’s known her but the timing was never right. When he finds out they’re finally single at the same time, he’s poised to move from friend zone to serious dating… until he finds out she’s only looking for something physical. He offers his services in hopes she’ll come around.
Just when things are starting to go his way, a shocking turn of events snatches her from his grasp. Now he has to resurrect the life he thought he’d left behind to help the woman he’s falling in love with before it’s too late.
A sweet, funny, sexy romance, The DatingAlternative launches everywhere December 26th.
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THE DATING ALTERNATIVE by Jennifer Woodhull (Full Cover)
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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.”
Author J. Bengtsson is revealing the cover to LIKE THE WIND, a stand-alone adult contemporary romance, releasing on Audible on January 15, 2019, and in eBook and paperback on April 16, 2019. See below for information on the book, preorder links, and a teaser.
LIKE THE WIND by J. Bengtsson
About the Book
Title: LIKE THE WIND Author: J. Bengtsson Release Date: Audiobook: January 15, 2019 | eBook and Paperback: April 16, 2019 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Links: Goodreads |Audible
Synopsis Prepare to laugh, cry, and fall in love with this enthralling new romance from J. Bengtsson – available in audio first!
When a letter from his supposedly deceased mother finds its way into his hands, life changes in an instant for international pop star Bodhi Beckett.
Reeling from the deception of those closest to him, Bodhi spirals out of control and is sent to a secluded mansion in the coastal mountains of Southern California for some rest and relaxation. But the retreat proves to be anything but relaxing when a raging wildfire sets the landscape around him ablaze.
While escaping the flames, Bodhi rescues Breeze, a quirky, pet-loving woman, and together the two fight their way to safety. In the aftermath of the fire, Bodhi and Breeze hit the road to uncover the truth about his family. What neither of them expected is to forge a powerful connection that will change their lives forever…but can it survive the real world, or will it disappear like the wind?
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Author J. Bengtsson
About the Author A professional stay-at-home-mom for twenty-one years, Jill started her writing career in 2016 after reading a really bad rockstar romance. Although she had no previous writing experience and no desire to become an author, Jill was convinced she could write a better story.
And so began Cake: A Love Story. She wrote the novel for fun and added every single thing she’d ever wanted to read in a romance. Embarrassed by her newfound hobby, Jill kept her writing a secret from her family.
When the story was complete, she turned to Amazon to get the feedback she desired. Not thinking the book would ever sell, Jill planned to pull Cake off Amazon once it got a review or two but that never happened because, within a week of its release, Cake began to soar up the bestseller charts. Not only was Jill shocked by Cake’s success but now she had a whole new burgeoning career on her hands…and some explaining to do. Needless to say, the news of Jill’s secret book bay came as a complete shock to her husband and three children.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Lauren Blakely, is revealing the cover to BEST LAID PLANS, a stand-alone adult contemporary romance, March 1, 2019.See below for the cover, information on the book, and pre-order links.
Synopsis That time I had the brilliant idea to ask my good friend for lessons in sex-ploration…
Awkward? Maybe. But how else is a good girl going to find out if she likes being naughty? I might be sweet as cherry pie, but I’m also bold and damn curious. And Gabe is charming, trustworthy, aces at seduction (or so I hear) and—bonus!— willing to give me lessons. But to guarantee it won’t ruin our friendship, I have some specific requirements for his instruction. I want these classes to be hypothetical more than hands-on. So what if he’s hella sexy? I can handle that, no problem.
***
I have it bad for Arden. She’s bright, brilliant, insanely fun, and I want to take her home and spend all night together—and then spend the day with her, too. When she asks for my help, I see my chance to win her sweet heart by showing her how much fun we can have getting spicy. Trouble is, she has a different idea of what “sex-ploration” should mean. Now I’m going to have to get really clever to win her over.
Good thing I know exactly how to upend her best laid plans.
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Author Lauren Blakely
About the Author A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than eighty times, and she’s sold more than 2 million books. In October, she’ll release HARD WOOD, a standalone romantic comedy. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter!
Today is release day for CASH, the fourth book in the adult romantic suspense series, Power Players, by New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and the book’s Spotify playlist.
Synopsis From New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo comes a scorching hot romance about overwhelming passion, dangerous bets, and family loyalty.
Kara needs fast cash to pay her ailing father’s gambling debts. Dealing blackjack at the Billionaire Club is her lucky break. Until a scorching hot one-night-stand with bad boy oil tycoon Cash Westbrook turns into a million-dollar bet. Cash agrees to pay her father’s debts…if Kara pretends to be his fiancée.
Kara agrees to Cash’s terms, but she doesn’t expect to find herself falling for him. And when it comes to love, all bets are off.
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Excerpt This is the third time I’ve unsuccessfully tried to get the fingerprint scanner to read my thumbprint. It’s hard trying to keep my finger steady when there are eight vodka tonics in my bloodstream and five slender fingers curled around my cock.
“Hurry up,” she slurs, tightening her grip. “I want your huge cock inside me.”
My fingers slide clumsily over the scanner again, and I silently curse myself for telling my bodyguards to wait downstairs. “Just turn around and I’ll fuck you right here.”
She giggles as she turns around and lifts the back of her sheer white mini-dress, which is soaked through from the wet bikini she’s wearing underneath. “Be my guest,” she says, looking back at me with a lazy grin.
Her ass is round and smooth, with an odd sparkle to it, like she used some kind of tanning creme with shimmer in it. Turning away from the front door of my penthouse to face her, I lose my balance and nearly tip over as I reach out to smack it. She howls with laughter as she places her hand on the wall so she doesn’t fall over.
“I’ll fuck that ass six ways from Sunday,” I say, grabbing her hips to steady myself.
I slide my hand into the back of her bikini bottoms and smile as I drag my finger forward through her moisture.
“Damn, baby. You’re wetter than a fucking tsunami.”
“Fuck me, Cash,” she begs, her voice sounding more whiny than sexy.
Not that I care. The girl has an ass like Scarlett Johansson and a face like Natalie Portman. This is the first time I’ve seen her at one of my best buddy Dean’s pool parties. This means she’s either a newbie on the scene or a Vegas tourist. Either way, she’s expendable. I don’t even remember her name. I can fuck her tonight and I won’t have to worry about ever seeing her again.
She continues to giggle as I slide my finger out of her slick pussy, then she lets out a loud hiccup. “Oops!”
I chuckle as I push her wet bikini bottoms down to reveal her creamy cheeks. “Fasten your seatbelt, because I’m about to ride you like a fucking roller coaster.”
“Just…fuck me already.” She’s slurring again.
I blink my eyes a few times when her two ass cheeks turns into four. Then I reach into my back pocket. Fuck. Where are my condoms? I turn away from her and stare at the shiny steel elevator doors. Should I go down and ask one of my bodyguards for a condom? Or should I just ask them to come up and let me into my apartment, where I have a whole fucking drawer full of them?
I shake my head. Nah, I’ll just try to open the door again. I’ll get it right this time.
When I turn around again, the hottie with the ass is on her knees. She dry heaves a couple of times into the corner of the vestibule. Then she spews milky white vomit all over the dark-gray carpet. The girl’s heaving body disappears as my mind is whisked away to a dark California beach.
* * *
The waves crash like thunder behind me. The moonlight casts a ghostly silver sheen over the water and the coarse sand. The sharp, briny smell of seaweed stings my nostrils as I press the heels of my palms into her chest, but she doesn’t respond. Doesn’t open her eyes. Doesn’t breathe.
Pinching her nose, I slide my other hand under her neck and lift up gently to tilt her head back. Her brown hair fans out over the sand as I blow into her mouth. I can taste the cloying rum on her lips as I blast four more puffs of air into her mouth, and the beach begins to spin underneath me. I hold my hands out in front of me, as if this will stop the spinning. Then, I realize I have to keep trying to save her.
No! I should call 911.
I hastily pull my phone out of my pocket and dial the number, then I close my eyes so I don’t throw up.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“My girlfriend is ODing. I think she’s dying! You need to hurry! We’re at… Oh, shit! Where are we?”
“Sir, what’s your name and what’s your girlfriend’s name? And what did she take?”
“Cash. Cash Westbrook. My girlfriend is Vanessa Allen. The actress. She—Oh, God. She took suboxone. I think she only took one.”
I turn around to see if there are any signs sticking out of the sand or near the parking lot, something to tell me the name of the beach we’re on. But the sudden movement makes the Earth tilt and I fall over onto the sand.
“What dosage did she take, sir?”
“Fuck, I don’t know!”
“Sir, I need you to calm down and tell me where you are.”
“Oh, fuck,” I whisper, my heart racing as I stumble to my feet, my sneakers sinking into the sand as I try to get a better look toward the road. “I’m near Newport—wait! Corona del Mar! I remember now. We’re in Corona del Mar. Near the south end. Hurry. Please hurry.”
“Sir, help is on the way. Are you also intoxicated?”
“Yes,” I reply, and I can’t fight back the tears anymore. “I took 120 milligrams of oxy…and a few beers.”
“Sir, can you tell me if Vanessa is breathing?”
I fall to my knees, brushing her hair out of her face as I look into her wide, glossy brown eyes. “Her pupils are gone. Oh, fuck. Is she dead?”
“Cash, are her lips blue or are they a normal color?”
“They’re blue. Please hurry!”
* * *
The memory disintegrates into chaos. Hector—my six-foot-three-inch, 290-pound bodyguard—has my arms locked behind my back as I struggle to break free.
“Get off me!” I roar. “What is he doing to her?”
My other bodyguard, Dex, is hunched over the girl lying at my front door. The girl I was about to fuck.
“Cash, calm the fuck down!” Hector slams me chest-first against the wall.
The force momentarily knocks the breath from my lungs, but my body is coursing with adrenaline now. I’m not ready to give up. I can’t give up. Not this time.
I throw my head back and a sharp pain slices through the back of my head. The distinct crunch of my skull meeting Hector’s nose spurs me on.
“You motherfucker!” he roars, letting me go and spewing nasally curse words as he reaches for his broken, bloody nose.
As soon as he releases his hold on me, I rush Dex, sending him headfirst into the front door handle. He topples over and the smudge of blood on the stainless steel snaps me out of my rage. What the fuck am I doing?
Hector snaps his arms around my chest and wrenches me backward and slams me onto the ground, securing my hands behind my back just as the elevator doors slide open. A team of two paramedics and two policemen enter the vestibule with a gurney. The medics head straight for the girl.
A policeman with a gut that hangs three inches below his belt buckle approaches Hector and me with his hand on his holster. “What’s going on here?”
“She passed out,” Hector replies, his voice nasally and still taut with tension as he continues to fight to restrain me. “We were trying to wake her up.”
“Wha—?” The sound of her voice, weak and disoriented, is like fucking music to my ears, and my limbs go completely limp.
“Why are you restraining him and why is that other guy passed out cold over there?” the officer asks.
Hector can feel I’ve given up, and he quickly lets go of my arms. Getting to his feet, he holds a hand out to help me up, but I don’t take it. I stand on my own, fairly sober now.
“Can you tell me your name?” one of the medics asks the girl.
“Rosie,” she mumbles, and I sigh with relief now that I know her name and she’s awake. “I’m gonna throw up,” she continues as she turns her head and spews all over the other medic’s pant leg.
“You’re awake,” I say as they wheel her past me on the gurney.
She flashes me a loose grin. “I’m not done with you,” she slurs.
I try not to laugh as she makes the universal signal for a blowjob with her fist and her tongue pressed against the inside of her cheek. She’s not so bad. Maybe I won’t ignore her next time I see her at Dean’s.
“What have you two been drinking? Or smoking or snorting?” The other officer with the blond hair and mustache asks.
“I’m swear I’m fine!” Rosie whines as they wheel her into the elevator.
“Officer?” Dex’s deep voice startles me. His eyebrow is cocked at me as he holds a handkerchief on the top of his smooth bald head. “I think she clearly had too much to drink, but there was nothing illegal going on here.”
“What happened to your head?” the blond officer asks.
“I slipped in her vomit,” Dex replies, handing the handkerchief to Hector so he can use it on his nose.
“And your nose?” the fat officer asks. “You slip and fall, too? Bump into a door, maybe?”
“Caught an elbow at a party.”
Fatty doesn’t look too impressed with this lie, but there’s nothing he can do about it. They subject me to a half-hearted interrogation about what Rosie and I were drinking at the pool party—I don’t know what she was drinking, Officer. I only met her about ten minutes before we left together—Then they get in touch with the medics to make sure she’s still conscious before they roll their eyes and disappear into the elevator.
My stomach goes sour as I realize Hector and Dex just lied to two officers of the law for me, to protect me from the consequences of my own recklessness. And it’s not the first time they’ve done it. In fact, I can’t even count the number of times they’ve smoothed things over for me with the authorities. And how many times has David Nichols, the head press officer at Westbrook Oil, fielded questions about my latest scandal?
The tabloid headlines flash in my mind: CASH’S FLING RUSHED TO HOSPITAL AFTER OVERDOSE SCARE… Just like all the headlines from the past two years: CASH AND TARA’S SECRET ABORTION… CASH’S WILD WEEKEND IN CABO… CASH’S JOYRIDE ENDS IN DUI… VANESSA ALLEN DEAD.
My dad’s words echo in my head: No, you can’t get rid of your bodyguards, Cash. They’re there to protect you from yourself.
Maybe it’s time I started protecting them from me.
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Playlist
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Author Cassia Leo
About the Author New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time re-watching Game of Thrones and Sex and the City. When she’s not binge watching, she’s usually enjoying the Oregon rain with a hot cup of coffee and a book.
Welcome to the blog tour for RUINS ON STONE HILL, the first book in the young adult fantasy series, Heroes of Ravenford, by F.P. Spirit. See below information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on his giveaway.
RUINS ON STONE HILL (Heroes of Ravenford #1) by F.P. Spirit
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: RUINS ON STONE HILL Series: Heroes of Ravenford #1 Author: F.P. Spirit Category: Young Adult Fantasy Release Date: June 19, 2014 Links: Goodreads| Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Magic is easy.
That’s what Glolindir thought, until he came across his first real monster.
Luckily, he survived, thanks to his new “friends.”
Lloyd, the reckless young warrior with blades of fire.
Seth, the sarcastic halfling who might be an assassin.
Aksel, the genius little gnome whose very touch can heal.
Little did they know that things were about to go from bad to worse.
After one hundred and fifty years of relative peace, dark forces stir around the little town of Ravenford—monsters, black magic, creatures of the night.
The only thing standing between Ravenford and certain destruction is this band of young misfits.
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Excerpt #3 Seth rifled through the bugbears’ belongings, looking for anything of use. Unfortunately, there was nothing. Abruptly, he heard a shout in the hallway.
“Come here!” the voice cried. It was followed by heavy thudding. It swiftly grew louder, then receded.
Seth rushed to the door and opened it a crack. He saw the golem at the end of the hallway, down where the pantry was. He heard a voice yell out. “Knock down the door! Kill them all!”
Telvar! It had to be the wizard. Seth scanned the hall, but could not see anyone. Either he was around the corner or—he was invisible!
That isn’t good. If this wizard could make himself invisible, then he was far more experienced than Glo. In a straight out duel, Telvar would easily kill him. Their only chance was to take this wizard by surprise. Luckily, surprise was Seth’s specialty.
Bang! The sound reverberated down the hall.
The golem’s trying to break into the pantry! Seth had to hurry. He pulled out a grey cloak from his pack and swiftly wrapped it around him. The color was close to the walls of the keep, and would help him blend into the background.
Bang! There was the sound again.
The door will not hold long. Seth crept out into the hall and down toward the pantry. The banging continued, now accompanied by the cracking of wood.
Seth strained his ears, hoping to hear the wizard’s voice again. If I can just pinpoint Telvar’s location…
A disembodied voice cried out, “Harder! Harder!”
The wizard was definitely nearby. Hopefully he would remain focused on the golem, but Seth had to be careful. He would only get one chance at this, and he needed to make it count.
Bang!
Seth reached the corner. The golem stood in front of the pantry door, hammering away at it. It was a mindless creature and would strictly follow its master’s commands. Seth halted, straining his ears for any sign of the wizard.
Bang! Crack!
The golem smashed through the upper part of the pantry door. Seth heard Titan’s voice from inside. “Go, Lloyd! I’ll hold him off until you get down.”
Then a disembodied voice screamed right in front of him, “Kill them all!”
Got him! Venom dagger already in his hand, Seth inched forward. He needed to be within quick stabbing distance to be sure.
He heard Titan yell. “Go, Lloyd! I’ll hold it off until you get down.”
“But Titan…” He heard Lloyd protest.
There was a momentary pause and then Titan yelled, “Now go!”
Seth tried his best to remain detached, but it was difficult. These were the first friends he had in, well, ever. The stone golem kicked in the bottom of the door. Wood went flying everywhere. He chanced a quick peek inside and saw Titan, shield up in front of her, mace in her other hand.
Now that’s brave.
The golem inserted its bulk into the doorway and blocked his view. Seth wrenched his eyes away and listened again for the wizard.
Where was he? He forced himself to ignore the crashing and banging coming from the pantry. There!He could hear heaving breathing right in front of him.
A loud clang resounded in the pantry. That sounded like stone on metal! A cold chill ran up Seth’s spine.
The breathing began to move. Seth followed.
A second clang came from the pantry, and then all sounds stopped. Telvar’s voice screamed out—right in front of him, “Don’t let them escape! Go after them! Down the basement! Kill them all!”
Seth had caught a glimpse of Telvar when he burst in on them in the lab. He estimated the mage to be about five and a half feet tall. With that in mind, he guessed where his heart should be. Bracing himself, he stabbed at an upward angle as hard as he could.
He was rewarded with the feeling of his dagger sliding into something. That was followed by a shrill scream. Seth ignored the cry and invoked the dagger’s magic with a single word, “Venenum.”
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Author F. P. Spirit
About the Author F.P. Spirit has always loved fantasy. From the moment he received his very first copy of Lord of the Rings back in high school, he was hooked. Today, somewhere between work and family, F. P. manages to write young adult sword and sorcery fiction. His series, Heroes of Ravenford, chronicles the adventures of a young band of misfits in the dangerous world of Thac. The last book in the series, The Baron’s Heart, is due out this fall.
Today is release day for A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS, the second book in the adult contemporary holiday romance series, Bachelors of Seattle, by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Hawkeye. See below for information on the book and buy links.
A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS (Bachelors of Seattle #2) by Lauren Hawkeye
About Book Title: CHRISTMAS SANCTUARY Author: A SOLDIER’S CHRISTMAS Series: Bachelors of Seattle #2 Publisher: Calluna Vulgaris Books Release Date: November 27, 2018 Genre: Adult Contemporary Holiday Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis Two years ago, Gavin Hunter got the send-off of a lifetime before heading overseas for what would be his last tour of duty. Now he’s back, but he’s changed from the things he’s seen. Every detail of his best friend’s wedding weekend is torture… every detail, that is, except for a bright-haired, tattooed, wild bridesmaid whose kiss is still seared into his memory.
Kate Lennox can take a hint, and it’s obvious that the soldier she kissed so eagerly years ago is no longer interested in pursuing that connection that sparked between them. Still, she’d do anything to drive that sad look from his eyes, the one that only disappears when she’s around.
Gavin still wants her, but he knows he’s in no shape to start anything more. But when he remembers just how perfect Kate is for him, he knows he has to do what is right to keep from dragging her down with him..
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Author Lauren Hawkeye
About the Author New York Times bestselling author Lauren Hawkeye never imagined that she’d wind up telling stories for a living… though she’s the only one who is surprised. She lives in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada with her husband, two young sons, pit bull and mischievous cat. In her nonexistent spare time, Lauren partakes in far too many hobbies! She loves to hear from her readers through e-mail, Facebook and Instagram! Sign up for Lauren’s newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/OeF7r
Welcome to the book blitz for THE VAMPIRE KING’S MATE Book Blitz, the second book in the adult fantasy/paranormal romance series, Fate of Imperium, by C.A. Worley. 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 e-book for just $0.99.
THE VAMPIRE KING’S MATE (Fate of Imperium #2) by C.A. Worley
About the Book – On Sale for a Limited Time
Title: THE VAMPIRE KING’S MATE Series: Fate of Imperium #2 Author: C.A. Worley Category: Adult Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Release Date: November 26, 2018 Links: Goodreads| Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis For five long years, Viktor, The Heartless King of Prajna, has ignored the cicatrice on his palm. The birthmark, which awakens only when a vampire’s fated mate is soon to cross his path, is a complication he does not need. A chance encounter with his true mate unexpectedly rocks him to the core. Unwilling to deny the pull of her soul to his, he bonds with the female, believing he can handle the one major obstacle standing in his way of happiness.
When Eden’s betrothal to the Wolf King of the North falls through, she rejoices. For the first time in her life, she believes her fate is her own. She later finds out how very wrong she was, and runs headfirst into the arms of a vampire. Soon, nefarious forces work against the pair. While Viktor tries to protect his mate, Eden learns the consequences of falling for a king who has no heart.
***The Vampire King’s Mate is the second book in the Fate of Imperium Series. Each book is the story of a different king and his fated mate. While the three books do not have to be read in order, it is highly recommended.
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Excerpt Eden gulped as the huge male was suddenly in front of her, one hand on each thigh, holding them apart, as he knelt between the V of her legs. He had moved so fast, he must have ported. Her heart pounded, and she used her magic to force the oxygen in her bloodstream to slow its speed.
“Do not do that,” Viktor snarled and tightened his grip on her thighs.
“Do what?” she whispered, adrenaline flooding her system. Her skin felt tight as her hormones surged.
“Whatever you are doing to your heart. It’s contracting, and you are denying it its natural response. You could harm yourself. I will not allow it to continue.”
“You think I am hurting myself?”
“Of course, you are. And I. Do. Not. Like. It,” he gritted through his teeth.
Despite his domineering attitude, his command was endearing. In his own way, he was trying to protect her. Her palm buzzed, then pushed itself to the side of his face.
Viktor held still, feeling the cool leather of her glove touch his cheek. He could feel the cicatrice’s pull as it beckoned to his own. He wanted to feel her skin slide along his, to join their hands as he emptied himself inside her.
Eden released the hold on the oxygen in her veins, allowing her heart to thump wildly while her blood flowed through it. Her breathing accelerated.
Viktor’s eyes moved to the artery on her neck and his fangs elongated as his cock became fully erect. He would need to feed soon. First, he would sample her flesh.
He mimicked her touch and ran his thumb along her bottom lip.
“Tell me, mala vestica, has anyone tasted these before?”
“No,” she panted, reveling in the feel of his skin upon her face.
“Good. I’d hate to have to kill anyone who had dared.”
He barely got the words out before his lips were on hers. She groaned when she felt his tongue enter and explore her mouth. Eden tentatively pressed her tongue to his, and a purring sound came from his throat.
She’d been wrong about his laugh. This was the most wonderful sound to ever reach her ears. Her undergarments flooded with her juices and she inched forward, pressing as hard as she could into his stomach.
Viktor’s hands moved to her backside, lifting her slightly off the chair and rubbing her up and down his abdominal muscles. The scent of her sweet honey filled the air and he couldn’t wait to lap it up.
Eden twisted and pulled at his hair as she wrapped her legs around his waist in a feeble attempt to get better purchase, to feel more pressure between her legs. She could sob from the want.
Viktor broke the kiss, needing to see the yearning in her eyes, wanting her to feel as uncontrolled as he felt.
Eden’s lips were swollen from his sensual assault. Her hooded eyes implored him for more. She squeezed her legs tight around him and his fingers dug into her flesh.
When she whined and stretched to kiss him again, his heart thudded heavily. Her fingers nimbly unbuttoned his jacket and slid it down his arms. He let it drop absently to the floor, in a hurry to get her body back in his hands.
Viktor slowed the kiss and his lips drifted across her cheek to her ear. “Do you have any idea what I’m going to do you?”
About the Author C.A. Worley is the alter-ego of Romance Author Cass Alexander. Where Cass tends to focus on humor in her publications, C.A. loves to write fantasy. She chose to write under the two different monikers so as to not confuse (or tick off) her readers.
C.A. currently resides in the Midwest, but was born and raised in the South. She spends her days working from home and her evenings are spent shuttling her kids to and fro. Her dinners are subpar, but she makes a mean dessert.
When she’s tired of living her sons’ travel sports schedules, C.A. enjoys a glass (or four) of wine. She needs the liquid courage to click the publish button for her fantasy romance novels.
Her motto is, “Be Brave,” and she tries to live it every day. It takes a healthy dose of courage to get through this thing we call life..
Author J. Bengtsson is announcing the wide release of FIERCELY EMMA, the third book in her new adult contemporary romance series, Cake, now available on all platforms. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive teaser.
Synopsis Emma, older sister of renowned rock star Jake McKallister, has crafted a quiet existence for herself. Fiercely independent, scorned at work, and indifferent to relationships, she’s spent the past decade trying to move on from the crime that shook her family to the core. Living by a promise she made to herself as a distraught sixteen-year-old, Emma has sworn off marriage and children… until a chance encounter with a scruffy hitchhiker throws her orderly world into chaos.
A wild child raised in mayhem by a teenage mother, fearless Finn Perry cruises through life as the perennial nice guy. Now a struggling actor, he supports himself by performing daredevil stunts. At a crossroads in his life, one thing has always remained constant in his world: Finn’s desire to start the family he never had. The mystery woman who rescues him from the side of the road sure seems like the perfect person for the job.
But unfinished business from Emma’s troubled past looms heavy, threatening to destroy the fledging love she’s found with the only man to ever jump-start her wounded heart.
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Author J. Bengtsson
About the Author A professional stay-at-home-mom for twenty-one years, Jill started her writing career in 2016 after reading a really bad rockstar romance. Although she had no previous writing experience and no desire to become an author, Jill was convinced she could write a better story.
And so began Cake: A Love Story. She wrote the novel for fun and added every single thing she’d ever wanted to read in a romance. Embarrassed by her newfound hobby, Jill kept her writing a secret from her family.
When the story was complete, she turned to Amazon to get the feedback she desired. Not thinking the book would ever sell, Jill planned to pull Cake off Amazon once it got a review or two but that never happened because, within a week of its release, Cake began to soar up the bestseller charts. Not only was Jill shocked by Cake’s success but now she had a whole new burgeoning career on her hands…and some explaining to do. Needless to say, the news of Jill’s secret book bay came as a complete shock to her husband and three children.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Donna Grant, is revealing a teaser from EVERBOUND, the fourth book in her adult historical/gothic romance series, The Kindred, releasing December 3, 2018. See below for information on the book and series, pre-order links, and an exclusive teaser. For a limited time, you can pick up the first three books in the series at discounted prices.
Synopsis To live in the light, they hunt in the dark…
The power of Helena’s magic has made her a target for the Coven. She wanted no part in the war of the witches, but it’s out of her hands now. She has to make a stand–and she does that by helping the Hunters and their allies against their common enemy. And now, the witch who ripped Helena’s future apart is coming. Sybbyl’s vengeance is swift and terrible, pitting the two against each other. But Helena doesn’t have to fight the Coven alone. A seductive warlock offers his aid. Helena is hesitant to give her trust to him–because it’s more than her life on the line. It’s her heart, as well.
As the most feared and respected warrior of the Varroki, Jarin is used to being on his own. But with the Coven’s quest to find the bones of the First Witch escalating, he finds it increasingly difficult to retain his solitary existence. When Jarin encounters Helena, he is helpless to resist her. She’s everything he didn’t know he wanted and so much more, and with her help, he’s convinced that maybe his people can finally defeat their foe. But there’s so much more at play than they know—ties in blood and sacrifice—and the loss that’s sure to follow may be greater than any of them can bear.
About the Author New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. Her latest acclaimed series, Dark Kings, features a thrilling combination of dragons, Fae, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children and an assortment of animals in Texas. Visit Donna at www.DonnaGrant.com.
Welcome to the book blitz for LOVE, MUSIC, MADNESS Book Blitz, a stand-alone new adult contemporary romance, by Tabitha Rhys. See below information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway. For a limited time you can pick up the eBook for just $0.99!
LOVE, MUSIC, MADNESS by Tabitha Rhys
About the Book – On Sale for $0.99 or Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: LOVE, MUSIC, MADNESS Author: Tabitha Rhys Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing Category: New Adult Contemporary Romance Release Date: April 25, 2018 Links: Goodreads| Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Songwriting partners Lawson Harper and Jessa Warlow’s musical ambitions are derailed when their so-called relationship ends disastrously. However, neither Lawson nor Jessa are willing to give up on the album’s worth of soul-searing songs they wrote together—songs they’re sure are good enough to change both their lives.
Will the chemistry that fuels their creativity drive them to make the record of a lifetime, or only to absolute madness?
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Excerpt #2 I opened up the program Tim favored and selected a file I had created in the days since our meeting at Musso. A slamming four-on-the-floor beat filled the room. It was a simple starter beat I’d created for the first song Jessa and I had written together, from scratch.
Jessa turned to me, chin cocked, guitar at the ready. “What do I do?”
“Play Estrella. Jump in whenever you’re comfortable.”
Jesse took a deep breath and began to strum. In no time, she was locked into the beat. Clearly, she hadn’t abandoned our songs the way I had. She wasn’t rusty in the least.
When Jessa added her vocals, I shivered. I’d forgotten how full and warm her voice was. How it rattled with just a touch of gravel on the high notes. I had also forgotten just how good our songs were. All through the cold Gunther winter, Jessa and I had altered them and played them back over and over, making sure the flow was just right. The arc. The mood.
While Jessa strummed and sang, I made adjustments to the beat. I switched up the bass tone so it was even more thudding and added a ghostly echo to the snare. At first, I wasn’t sure how to approach the toms, but I ended up dialing them back by removing a few hits from the loop.
By the time Jessa hit the bridge, I was just listening. Layered over the beat, her voice took on a haunting quality. The result really was just as I’d imagined. A strange, but synergistic juxtaposition.
After Jessa’s last note, I hit the spacebar and halted the beat.
In the sudden silence, Jessa’s eyes widened. “Lawson. I can hardly believe it. That was our song. But it was so much more.” She shook her head.
“Should we try out a few more options? You know, keep searching for our sound?”
“Searching for our sound? Lawson, we just found it . . .”
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Tabitha Rhys
About the Author TabithaRhys is a writer and mom with a passion for music, misfits, and subculture. She grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and now resides in Riverside, CA with her husband and son.
Welcome to the book blitz for FADING TO BLACK the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, Uninhibited, by Kevin V.H. Luis. See below information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on his giveaway.
FADING TO BLACK (Uninhibited #2) by V.H. Luis
About the Book
Title: FADING TO BLACK Series: Uninhibited #2 Author: V.H. Luis Category: Adult Contemporary Romance Release Date: November 20, 2018 Links: Goodreads| Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis We’re flawed. Both full of scars and tormented by the shadows of our past. But in each other’s arms we find solace, we find perfection.
Adam Black. Gorgeous, demanding, a sinful dream that once was my reality.
I was his… until I walked away.
For months I’ve managed to curb my Adam addiction. I’ve focused my energy on my painting career. I’ve found success. Still there is a dangerous urge within me I can’t resist, one that tempts me to be reckless. My life isn’t complete.
Something is missing… he’s missing.
I left him, but fate again has made us collide. And this time I won’t turn away—I won’t be the only one revealing the scars of my past.
I was his… am his… and this time he’ll be completely mine.
About the Author V.H. Luis is the author of the Black Series, an erotic romance trilogy that follows the love affair of Evelyn Snowe and Adam Black. Her debut book WAKING to Black, was released May 2, 2018, and the subsequent sequels FADING to Black, and SURRENDERING to Black, will follow shortly thereafter.
I’m a born and bred Miami Girl–and proud of it! I would wear shorts and flip-flops everyday of the week if I could. Growing up in Miami, surrounded by my parent’s heritage has made me proud of my Cuban ancestry. Cafecito and a guava pastry for breakfast? Yes, please! Salsa music while I tidy the house? Of course.
If I’m not busy scribbling notes about a story, I’m painting, listening to music, or spending time with the love of my life–my son. If I decide to travel, I bring the whole family (in-laws included), or at least I try to, because life is too short not to spend it with family; one of the many lessons my father taught me..
Author Lee Piper is revealing another exclusive teaser from AS YOU WERE, the second book in her adult contemporary romance series, Rising Star, releasing December 7, 2018. See below for information on the book and series, pre-order links, the exclusive teaser, and a bonus excerpt.
Love is a dark, broken man with whiskey-colored eyes. Love is knowing he will never return my feelings. It is the final chord of a guitar riff as it bleeds into silence.
Love is Zeke Danton.
I convinced myself I needed him. I thought there was no one better to record my debut album with…
I was wrong.
Encased in layers of ice, he wears his pain like a protective shield.
Wanting what I can’t have might ruin me. But so help me, I crave his destruction..
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AS YOU WERE (Rising Star #2) by Lee Piper (Full Cover)
About the Author Lee Piper is a lover of books. She often juggles reading seven novels at a time for the sheer joy of it. When not writing, she is either reading, at the beach, or eating her body weight in chocolate.
Lee Piper’s debut novel, Rock My World became a bestseller and was a Raven Award finalist for Favorite Contemporary Romance and Favorite Cover. Her second novel, Rock My Body, was voted Best Book by LASR Readers and was a finalist in the 2017 Readers’ Choice Award. Lie to Me, Book #1 in the Rising Star series was reached number seventy-eight in the 2018 Goodreads Readers’ Choice Award.
Lee Piper lives in South Australia, with her drummer husband, cheeky daughters, and neurotic dog.
Welcome to the blog tour for DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION, the first stand-alone book in the adult contemporary romance series, Road to Love, byNew York Times bestselling author, Lori Foster. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION (Road to Love #1) by Lori Foster
About the Book Title: DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION Series: Road to Love #1 Author: Lori Foster Publisher: Harlequin Books Release Date: November 20, 2018 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Link: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis When desire gets this hot, you’d better buckle up…
Mary Daniels doesn’t let anything get in the way of her job acquiring rare artifacts for her wealthy boss. But this particular obstacle—huge, hard-muscled, unashamedly masculine—is impossible to ignore. Stuck in a cramped car with Brodie Crews for hours en route to their new assignment, Mary feels her carefully crafted persona—and her trademark self-control—is slipping, and she won’t allow it.
Brodie can’t imagine what secret in Mary’s past has left her so buttoned-up, though he’d dearly love to find out. Maybe then she’d trust him enough to explore their explosive chemistry. But he needs this job, so he’ll play by her rules and bide his time…until an enemy determined to outwit them strikes and he needs to get close—in every way—to protect her. Otherwise they could lose much more than a precious collectible. They could lose it all.
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Excerpt #1 At his deliberately misspoken question, little Red whirled, her expression aghast. She looked ready to faint. Or maybe scream.
Odds of her running away were high.
Brodie grinned—then winced at the pain in his head.
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. She closed it again, breathing deeply from flared nostrils.
Gorgeous mouth, he noticed. Full lips that looked a little pouty when he doubted this woman knew how to pout. As he stared at her, more freckles appeared over the bridge of her narrow, hoity nose. Her eyes were vivid blue, like the midday sky or sapphires or…hell, he was too hungover to pinpoint the exact color of her eyes.
Her hair though, he could nail that: Fire-red. And curly.
His gaze swept over her body quickly, but a glance was all he’d needed to realize she was stacked and doing her best to hide it.
Jack cleared his throat and the woman jumped as if his brother had goosed her. She looked back at Jack with longing, then at Brodie with distaste. “You’re Brodie?”
Never had a woman said his name with such disappointment. True, he wasn’t at his best, but still…
Just then, Gina’s boobs smooshed up against his sweaty back as she draped herself over him, trying to stake a claim.
“Brodie,” she whined in his ear. “About tonight.?”
There’d be no shrugging her off, so he said to Red, “‘scue me a sec,” and turned to walk toward the car. After a smug look shot at Red, Gina came along.
He hadn’t gone far enough away not to be heard, but it was his best stab at compassion. He shoved his hands in the back pockets of his sagging jeans. “I already told you no. No for tonight, no forever. Let it go, okay?”
“But—”
“No buts. Jack and I share a lot, but not that.”
He heard Red gasp again, heard Jack growl, and then the office door opened. Brodie glanced their way in time to see his brother escorting the scorched redhead inside.
Why the hell did that bug him so much? Because she came here for me.
“Jack was a mistake. I want you, Brodie.”
He rolled his eyes. Now she was insulting his brother? Did the woman not know his feelings on family?
Apparently not.
“This isn’t a carnival. You don’t get a ticket for all the rides.” Her pout was deliberate and perfectly practiced. If she hadn’t screwed his brother, he might’ve been interested. “Go home,” he said, a little more gently. “We’re not happening.”
Without bothering to look at Gina again, he turned to Howler. The dog had sprawled in the scant shade of the Mustang, catcher-mitt paws in the air, junk on display, one loose lip drooping down to touch a floppy ear. “C’mon, boy. Let’s go cool off.”
Howler opened one eye, grumbled and closed it again.
“I’m going to get lunch.”
That got his attention. The dog’s long bony legs flailed in the air as he frantically struggled upright, lumbered to his feet and ran over with a “Woof.”
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Author Lori Foster
About the Author Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN. Visit her online at LoriFoster.com.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE HOUSE OF FIRE AND RAIN, the second book in the adult fantasy romance series, Firemountain Chronicles, by Victoria Lynn Osborne. See below information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE HOUSE OF FIRE AND RAIN (Firemountain Chronicles #2) by Victoria Lynn Osborne
About the Book
Title: THE HOUSE OF FIRE AND RAIN Series: Firemountain Chronicles #2 Author:Victoria Lynn Osborne Category: Adult Fantasy Romance Release Date: November 15, 2018 Links: Goodreads| Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Synopsis Dave Dobrowski is a detective in Firemountain. Things haven’t been the same in Firemountain since Dinah Steele took down Gleebelix. Now illegal prostitutes are dying in droves. Yet the legal brothel, The House of Fire and Rain, on tribal land is immune to a curse that is killing not only working girls but their clients. Dave and his alchemical partner Jolene Anderson, race to discover why legal girls are protected why illegals are dying and discover there is more than just morality at stake.
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Excerpt #2 Jolene Anderson brushed her wavy auburn locks from her emerald green eyes and peered through a microscope at the sample brought to her. The yellow residue smelled of rotten eggs. She ran it through the centrifuge and separated the solution into its various parts.
“This isn’t sulfur,” she muttered to herself. She carefully put the separated infusion into test tubes and labeled them.
This would require using alchemy to further identify it. She would need to set up the apparatus to study them. Next she turned her attention to the millions of spiders. She put some of them in a viewing cup and slipped the device under the microscope. Using tiny tweezers, she broke off a leg and slipped it into the electron microscope.
“That’s odd,” she muttered, making a note in her book. “These spiders have no DNA.”
She took the samples into the laboratory. The inlaid circle flared to life as she activated the protections. She pulled supplies off the shelf, including several vials of holy water, manroot, belladonna, and whoresbreath.
The small cauldron was soon heated. Whispering an incantation, she slipped the spider into the solution. “Show me what you are,” she whispered, waving her hand over the bubbling pot.
The solution whirled brown and blue and the scent of rotten eggs filled the air. A spider appeared, only this spider had the head and body of a beautiful woman. This tiny woman had red luscious lips pursed in a blown kiss.
“What the hell is that?” Jolene took out a film camera and snapped a picture. The vision faded and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Jolene sat in the residual smoke, allowing herself to free-associate. She jotted down whatever came to mind as the scent faded from the alchemical lab. The spider/woman was called a whore’s curse, and she infected whores and their johns. Once in the world, they would spread quickly. No known way to stop them.
After her writing session ended, Jolene rubbed her fingers on her slacks. A bell in the main lab notified her that someone had come into the lab.
She shrugged into her lab coat and answered the summons. Dave Dobrowski, the detective from the Firemountain sheriff’s department, stood inside the lab.
“Dobrowski,” she greeted. She held her clipboard in her hands as she made a note.
“Have you gotten results from the samples turned in last night?” He flashed his badge.
“I know who you are.” Jolene took the printout from the computer. “I have run several tests, both scientific and occult. I am not sure how it’s possible, but these spiders have no DNA. Furthermore, the yellow substance that was all over the body is brimstone. When I ran the spider through the occult chemistry diffuser, it revealed that there was a tiny spider with a woman’s body and head attached. It is called ‘whore’s curse’ and is extremely virulent.”
“What does that mean?” Dobrowski asked.
“Well, this will spread. I learned from free-writing that this will spread through the prostitutes and destroy them and their clients.”
“Should we put the whorehouse on quarantine?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary. I think a thorough examination of the girls each day should be sufficient. Now that I know what I am looking for, it will be easier to spot it.”
“Okay, I will notify the madam that her physician needs to make a visit today and give them all an exam.”
“We found more of the spiders on a second victim, but so far the whorehouse has been clean. I went out there last night to visit with a girl I know there.” He trailed off, shuffling his feet.
“Well I’m sure it was professional.” Jolene smiled a crooked smile that revealed perfect teeth. “Why do you go out there? Isn’t it… well… pathetic?”
Dobrowski glared at her. “You have no right to judge me. I am not someone who has no life. What I ‘get’ out there transcends simple sex.”
Jolene felt her stomach lurch. Her own secrets seemed petty.
“Well, call me if you find out anything new.” Dobrowski tipped his hat curtly and left the lab.
Jolene clutched the table, her legs weak. What would he say if he knew? She glanced at her watch. It was almost time to go to her other job. She filed her findings and flipped off the lights as she locked up.
About the Author Victoria Lynn Osborne has always had a passion for telling stories. She wrote her first short story at the age of five and has kept her finger on the artistic impulse of writing. This has taken the form of plays, Dungeons and Dragons, short stories, and now novels.
Her greatest passion is fantasy, especially epic, and urban fantasy. She also loves mysteries. Her book series Jason and Mortyiene mysteries are murder mysteries in a high fantasy setting. Her epic series The Great Wyrm Saga is due out in 2015.
Welcome to the book blitz for SOUL BORN, the first book in the adult fantasy series, Soul Born Saga, by Kevin James Breaux. See below information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on his giveaway.
SOUL BORN (Soul Born Saga #1) by Kevin James Breaux
Synopsis All Opal wanted was to be respected as a wielder of magic, but her teachers passed her over time and time again. When a mysterious warlord embarks on a conquest to destroy the lands of Illyia, Opal seizes the opportunity to step out from the shadows of her instructors and take her rightful place among them. Tala, an alluring young elf, was banished from her tribe, hunted and nearly killed by the beasts of the deep forests, but more than anything else she is a survivor. Joining forces with an ancient elemental power, Tala finds herself in the center of an unrelenting human war. Flesh like leather and bone as strong as steel, Karn, a veteran from the first kingdom to fall, is fueled by vengeance. While pushing headlong into battle Karn begins recalling memories of another life: ghosts that haunt his dreams. Through death of soul, their new world is born.
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Excerpt #2 The screams of wounded men deafened Karn as he opened his eyes to the blinding glare of sunlight off a damaged shield. Were it not for the echo of his own breath in his ears, he would have believed himself to be nothing more than the soul of a warrior, floating off, on its way to the cherished afterlife. Yet he was alive, even though chaos had surrounded him on all sides.
The enemy’s cavalry charge had decimated his troops and scattered the few men still alive and on their feet. To his left were thirteen of his luckier soldiers, unharmed and ready for combat. To his right, a fog of thick dust swirled around the horses that passed through his lines. Karn tried to ignore the cries of the wounded behind him but could not. When he turned, he saw the ruins of a small town coughing black smoke into the pale blue sky.
My home. Gone.
Another group of men, all wearing familiar black-and-purple sigils, rushed to his side. They screamed and pointed in the direction of the dust cloud. He might have heard their words if not deafened by a new sound, one that would have made his heart jump from his chest had it not been caged by thick plates of armor.
Enemy foot soldiers advanced in five long combat lines, all pounding the flats of their weapons against their shields. Although greatly outnumbered, those who could still grip a weapon joined him.
Karn shed his fear with a blood-chilling howl, raised his axe above his head, then slammed its handle down against the left breast of his armor.
As he rushed the front line he was struck with an odd thought. Unlike his own men, the enemy soldiers wore the cleanest plate armor and most pristine white tabards he had ever seen—details that he employed to fuel his rage. As he engaged his first combatant, he ordered his men to soil as many of the pretty kingdom soldiers as they could before they committed their souls to the god of war.
Karn’s axe was an extension of his hatred for the enemy. It crashed down and split the helmet of one man before it buried itself in the leg of another. With his shield braced to his shoulder, Karn rammed his way into the crowd of opponents in a savage rage. His men liked to call it a death wish, but he simply preferred to fight surrounded, where every swing of his axe would strike a body that stood against him.
Karn sliced high and low and his efforts dispatched man after man. Blood and gore splashed around him, and painted friend and foe alike.
I will kill them all!
A crushing blow shook Karn’s frame.
His mind searched for reason. He had seen something moments ago, yes, he recalled it. In the crowd, a man with a war hammer. Only a massive weapon such as that could create an impact that would jar his entire body forward.
As he turned to face his attacker, he was stabbed in his shoulder. His vision blurred for several blinks—a long enough time for two rival soldiers to seize the opportunity to grab his arms, while another much smaller man aimed his sword at his belly.
The enemy had him.
He growled with fury and spat blood in the face of one of the men who stabbed him, before he was run through.
He struggled with all his might, with all the might of his kinsmen. Karn’s enemies tightened their grips, but he still broke free.
He reversed the hold the soldier on his left had and shoved him into the path of the shorter man’s bloody sword, but this bought him the briefest respite, as the glimmer of sharp weapons sparkled in every direction.
“Kill you all!”
Karn’s legs buckled after one uneven step, and he fell headlong onto the soft earth. He could hear his foes rejoice—the final indication that his forces were defeated. He fought to stand, gripping the loose soil in tight fists as he pushed up. But his strength, like his life, faded with each drop of blood that spilled from his body. As the world around him faded to nothing, he heard one last, faint cheer: “Death to the warlord!”
Karn opened his eyes and his senses overwhelmed him. He hadn’t known what to expect—certainly not a deep autumn forest, pine trees so tall he had to tilt his head all the way back to see the tops that surrounded him. Karn’s heavy heart raced as he sat up on a bed of old pine needles. He struggled to comprehend his last memory: a battle, blood, death—it seemed so familiar. He shook his head and tried to disregard the images.
A nightmare; haunting and real, but just a nightmare…
He spotted an old lumberjack’s axe nearby, its wooden handle wrapped in leather so thin and dry it looked as if it would crumble upon touch.
This axe…
Karn picked it up and gauged its weight. He thought back to the axe from his nightmare: large and sharp, with runes etched into its blade and steel handle.
No, that axe was a war axe; it belonged in my hand. This one… He gazed at it and the trees around him. This is a chopping axe and it’s as foreign as this place surrounding me.
Karn swung the axe at the tree as he imagined a lumberjack would. The blade buried itself in the soft bark with a thud. He shook his head as he tugged the axe free. I didn’t sink my axe into trees–I sunk it into men: enemies of my kin.
Although he told himself the visions that flooded his mind were a bad dream, the fury of battle still built inside him.
Karn gnashed his teeth, swung the axe over his head, and released it on the tree in a slicing motion. The vibration of the strike up his forearm felt good, so he swung again and again. Slivers of dry bark flew from the tree, soon replaced by the splatter of gooey sap from fresh, green wood.
Engrossed in his attack, Karn did not hear the crunch of dry leaves beneath approaching feet.
“Karn! What are you doing?”
A young woman stood fifteen feet away. Karn’s violent mood washed away the moment he laid eyes on her.
He noted her style of dress, different from most of the young ladies of his lands’ court. She wore a beige blouse and a thick skirt, not unlike a commoner or farmer, yet hers were much cleaner than most.
Next, he noted her body, which was tall and lean, a good fit to her garb.
“Are you well?” she asked.
Karn recognized her long, wavy red hair. He remembered the cream-colored skin of her face and the sharp upturn of her lips. He was sure he knew this young woman intimately, but no matter how hard he tried to remember, her name escaped him.
“You’ve been resting in my father’s cabin for almost five days. This morning, when I rose, you were gone. I was scared to death,” the young woman said, her voice shaky.
He shrugged. “I awoke out here.”
“You’re still recovering from your injuries, my love. You shouldn’t be running about the forest.”
My love?
Karn could see her eyes as she drew closer. Not only were they filled with concern, but her irises were two different colors: one blue, one green. The sight caused something to flicker deep in his memory.
“Opal,” he announced. “Your parents gave you that nickname when you were seven summer cycles old because your eyes turned two different colors.”
“Yes, Karn.”
Karn tried to make sense of his current situation, but there were no answers in his mind, no recollections to call from, nothing more than a black wall of emptiness that stretched on forever in every direction.
“What happened to me? How did I get here?”
Opal stepped to Karn. Now chest to chest with him, she reached up and placed her hand on his shoulder. She gazed deep into his eyes and was silent for a moment before she spoke.
“Are you having trouble remembering?” Opal brushed her warm fingertips across his temple. “You remember me, don’t you?”
Karn called upon his memory again, and this time hundreds of jumbled images flashed through his mind. “You and I are lovers; we hope to raise a family together.”
“Yes, we’re lovers.” Opal spoke as she stepped around him to the tree he had hacked away at like a savage.
Karn shook his head and rubbed his temples. “Why do I feel so… so lost?”
He thought back and found more memories of Opal. While these moments appeared with ease, he strained to catch even the smallest fragments of time he had spent alone or with others.
“I-I belong somewhere…” Karn rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“Do not pressure yourself,” Opal said as she stared at the deep gashes in the tree. “You were wounded in the invasion; you suffered a grave head wound and should have died. You’re very fortunate the horse I gifted you was trained to return here if lost.”
Karn stepped to her side in time to hear the words trickle from her crimson lips. His heart sank into his stomach and his body felt cold. For a moment, he feared that his feet were going to float off the ground and topple him over.
“Invasion?”
Opal slowly distanced herself from him while she waved her hands around in a circular motion. From her palms, an orange-colored smoke sprayed and took the shape of an oblong window.
What is this? This-this is impossible… he thought. No, I remember this. This is magic. Opal’s magic.
Inside the smoky frame was a vision unlike any Karn remembered. The image, not dissimilar from an oil painting, was soft and blurry, which caused him to squint. As he stared in amazement, Opal began to speak.
“Weiden’s Rise was ambushed by a marauding warlord. Outnumbered, her army fell quickly, but not before her generals issued two poignant commands.”
As she spoke, the scene inside the smoky frame changed, like pages turning in a book. Images of his kingdom with an enormous army besieging its gates brought back the desire for violence he had experienced moments ago.
“Your father, one of the kingdom’s highest-ranking generals, ordered you and the cavalry under your command to protect the citizens of Weiden’s Rise as they fled through a secret tunnel. Another unit of cavalry, led by the king’s brother, was dispatched to engage the enemy and distract them from your egress.”
“I-I remember this,” Karn whispered as the images shifted from one static scene to the next, displaying exactly what Opal described.
“The king’s brother tried, but could not keep the attention of the enemy. Their scouts discovered the tunnel’s mouth. Before you could lead all the citizens from the tunnel into the forest, the enemy dispatched its fastest riders, a legion of mixed horse archers and light cavalry.”
Karn recognized the next scene—it was him and his men surrounded by the women and children of Weiden’s Rise. As her magic summoned the image, he gasped. No… I failed…
The citizens he had been ordered to protect ran in fright, some injured while others lay dead, pierced by many arrows. Karn spotted himself in the picture; he fought off the enemy’s cavalry while he utilized his horse to defend a fleeing family.
“Refusing to retreat, even when it was clear your efforts were futile, you and your men saved hundreds, Karn.”
“I was run through…” Karn said, as he recalled his dream.
“No,” Opal replied. “As you raced to the forest’s edge to rescue a group of children, you rode straight into a group of twenty enemy cavalry. Karn, you saved those children, but not without a cost. You were struck by a war hammer.”
The last image Karn saw was that of himself slumped over his horse. Blood had painted streaks down his face, as well as the flanks of his mount.
“You found me?” he said, as the orange smoke dissipated and blew away in the cool fall breeze.
“Yes, when I returned from my studies, I found you lying unconscious, your horse watching over you. You looked half-dead.” Opal paused to catch her breath. “I used my magic to heal you, but your wounds were severe, the worst I have ever tended to.”
Opal’s story had had an effect; his heart raced, and his brow was soaked. He wanted to scream and punch the nearest tree. Thoughts of his father, defeated and most likely dead at the hand of this nameless warlord, filled his mind.
“Calm yourself, my love.”
The look of concern in her eyes troubled him. Why do you look at me like that? Am I still ill… or do you fear me?
“Calm myself? Fuck! I cannot. My kingdom is conquered!” Karn growled. “My family is dead!”
“Karn, please, don’t allow yourself to be overcome with these emotions—not when there’s still so much to achieve.”
Karn’s mind raced with jumbled thoughts. “Achieve? What do you mean? Wait, does the warlord remain in Weiden’s Rise?”
Opal placed her hand on his chest and looked deep into his eyes. Her proximity in that moment made him uncomfortable, so he glanced away, but not before a flash of magical energy emanated from her eyes: green and blue, a match to the color of each iris.
“You cannot confront the warlord alone. You need my help,” Opal said, slow and clear. “Allow me to take you to my teachers at the High Council; they can aid us in this coming conflict.”
“I need help.”
Opal nodded. “Yes.”
“Fine, let us seek out your teachers.”
Opal smiled before she leaned in and gave Karn a brief kiss on the lips. “I need you to rest first. Can you rest for me?”
Karn nodded.
“Good.”
Opal watched Karn turn and march off in the direction she had come from. Once he disappeared into the forest, she shifted her attention to the shadows that painted the trees around her.
“All clear,” she said with confidence.
From high above, near the tops of the great pines of the forest, the man she called her mentor lowered himself slowly. Malek was her head trainer and the overseer of her special mission. In his late sixties, Malek stood tall and thin, covered in the dark sapphire-colored mage’s robes— said to be made, in part, of cockatrice hide—that only the instructors of the High Council were permitted to wear. He ran his hand through his tight-cropped white hair, scratching lightly, then down his cheek to his thick goatee. When he spoke, he did so in a deep, commanding voice.
“You must pay closer attention to your surroundings, fledgling.”
“What? I—”
“It has been less than a week since we enchanted him with the Ancient Warlord’s Soul spell.” Malek removed his hood and ran his hand over his tight cropped white hair. “This boy here might be our last chance to defeat our enemy. There’s no room for childish mistakes.”
Opal crossed her arms. “You think I don’t know that?”
The old mage gave her the same look he always gave her when her rebellious nature flared. Using his long, ornate staff like a cane, he walked toward the tree that Karn had assaulted. Opal watched her mentor study the cuts. He no doubt realizes just how deep they are now. Karn is much stronger than they ever imagined.
“Fascinating,” Malek said after he cleared his throat and coughed, spittle dripping into his unkempt white goatee. “However, it remains obvious to me that he requires further battle testing.”
“I agree.”
“Very well then. Ferry him to the fortress, so we can evaluate his abilities appropriately…” Malek paused to glare at Opal. “As we do all our students.”
“I already convinced him that he needs to visit the High Council in search of aid,” Opal replied with a smirk. “I will bring him later tonight. Then you may do as you wish, Malek.”
“I always do as I wish, fledgling.”
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Kevin James Breaux
About the Author Kevin James Breaux has written nine books and devoted the past twelve years of his life to crafting short stories and novels. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Paranormal Romance Guild, and other groups.
Welcome to the book blitz for NICK AND EVE, the third book in the adult contemporary holiday romance series, North Pole Unlimited, by Elle Rush. See below information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
NICK AND EVE (North Pole Unlimited #3) by Elle Rush
Synopsis Nick’s plan: dodge his grandmother’s matchmaking attempts by claiming Eve is his date for Christmas. He probably should have asked Eve first.
Although Nick Klassen is grateful when Eve rides to his rescue after he breaks down outside of December, Manitoba, he can’t run fast enough when his meddling grandmother tries to set him up with the pretty tow-truck driver. Then he gets an idea.
Between juggling extra hours at work and a never-ending Christmas to-do list, Eve LeBlanc doesn’t have time for a new man in her life. But ever since she picked Nick up on the side of the road, she’s been running into him everywhere.
His flirtations started innocently enough but when his grandmother invites “his girlfriend” to the family’s Christmas dinner, Nick realizes if he wants to stop pretending about Eve, he must come clean. Once Eve learns of his deception, he’ll need Santa’s help to turn their fake relationship in the real thing.
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Excerpt #2 “Lois and Clark!” Nick scrawled his answer on the sheet, fending off Eve’s feeble attempts to snatch the pen from his hand.
“It. Is. Not. Lois. And. Clark. That’s. Superman,” she grunted as she went for the paper again.
“No. They were the mapmaking duo who mapped America.”
The buzzer sounded. “The answer is Lewis and Clark.”
He was close. “I don’t suppose we get partial credit.”
Eve laughed. “Why would they start now?”
They were getting trounced. Embarrassingly. Thoroughly. The second worst team was still beating them by a dozen points. If the questions weren’t sports—particularly hockey—related for Nick, or cars for Eve, they didn’t have a clue. His high school history and geography teachers would be so disappointed in him. At least Eve guessed correctly at some of the art and literature questions.
When her last guess got them their fifth point of the night, she leaned over and whispered in his ear. “I’ll be you’re pretty impressed with me right now, aren’t you?”
“Very.”
“I watched the movie version.”
“Of Anna Karenina? How bored were you?”
“Sadly, “the only other thing on television was curling” bored.”
About the Author Elle Rush is a contemporary romance author from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. When she’s not travelling, she’s hard at work writing books which are set all over the world. From Hollywood to the house next door, her heroes will make you sigh and her heroines will make you laugh out loud.
Elle has a degree in Spanish and French, barely passed German, and has flunked poetry in every language she’s studied, including English. She also has mild addictions to tea, yarn, Christmas decorations, and HGTV renovations shows.
