THE NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS (A Writer’s Guide to Character Flaws) by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
Synopsis Crafting likable, interesting characters is a balancing act, and finding that perfect mix of strengths and weaknesses can be difficult. But the task has become easier thanks to The Negative Trait Thesaurus.
Through its flaw-centric exploration of character arc, motivation, emotional wounds, and basic needs, writers will learn which flaws make the most sense for their heroes, villains, and other members of the story’s cast. This book’s vast collection of flaws will help writers to explore the possible causes, attitudes, behaviors, thoughts, and related emotions behind their characters’ weaknesses so they can be written effectively and realistically. Common characterization pitfalls and methods to avoid them are also included, along with invaluable downloadable tools to aid in character creation.
Written in list format and fully indexed, this brainstorming resource is perfect for creating deep, flawed characters that readers will relate to.
“In these brilliantly conceived, superbly organized and astonishingly thorough volumes, Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi have created an invaluable resource for writers and storytellers. Whether you are searching for new and unique ways to add and define characters, or brainstorming methods for revealing those characters without resorting to clichés, it is hard to imagine two more powerful tools for adding depth and dimension to your screenplays, novels or plays.”
– Michael Hauge, Hollywood script consultant and story expert, author of Writing Screenplays That Sell and Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read
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My Review As with the rest of the books in this series, THE NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS is a must-read for all fiction writers. A brief introduction covers how negative traits help develop well-rounded characters. No one has only positive traits, so weaving in negative traits allows us to create lifelike fictional beings that will take shape in believable ways, allowing readers to identify with them. After that, the book again provides a large number of negative traits, including a brief description and possible influences that could be responsible for them within your character. Each entry dives deeper with similar attributes, associated behaviors and thoughts, possible emotional responses, and what traits in supporting characters may cause conflict. Also included are example characters from literature to really drive the point home.
If you’re looking to develop in-depth characters who come across as authentic, add this to your arsenal, along with THE POSITIVE TRAIT THESAURUS.
Bottom Line If you want to create deep, realistic characters, look no further than the Writer’s Guide series.
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About the Book
Title: THE NEGATIVE TRAIT THESAURUS: A Writer’s Guide to Character Flaws Authors: Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi Publisher: JADD Publishing Publication Date: October 13, 2013 Pages: 263 Category: Writing Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU |Barnes & Noble
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Author Angela Ackerman
About the Author ANGELA ACKERMAN is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of 7 bestselling books for writers, including The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression (now an expanded 2nd Edition). Her books are available in six languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world.
Angela is also the co-founder of the popular site Writers Helping Writers®, as well as One Stop for Writers®, an innovative online library built to help writers elevate their storytelling. A strong believer in writers helping and supporting other writers, she tries to pay-it-forward however she is able to..
About the Author Becca Puglisi is a speaker, international writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via her newest endeavor: One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library like no other, filled with description and brain-storming tools to help writers elevate their storytelling. You can find Becca online at both of these spots, as well as on Facebook and Twitter..
Welcome to the blog tour for THE SHADOW PRINCE, a prequel novella in the young adult fantasy romance series, Mortal Enchantment, by Stacey O’Neale. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE SHADOW PRINCE (Mortal Enchantment #0.5) by Stacey O’Neale
About the Book Title: THE SHADOW PRINCE Series: Mortal Enchantment #0.5 Author: Stacey O’Neale Publisher: Phoenix Reign Publishing Release Date: March 25, 2014
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Boxed Set
Synopsis Prequel novella to the award-winning YA fantasy series Mortal Enchantment. Discover a world of elemental powers, courage, duty, sacrifice, forbidden romance and a war for the very elements of life.
Sixteen-year-old Rowan is an elemental prince. Banished to the mortal world, he doubts he will ever return to Avalon and claim the fire court throne. Until he receives a challenge from his estranged mother. If he slays Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental, princess of the air court, she will abdicate her throne. Is he capable of completing such a heinous task? And what price will he pay if he refuses?
Perfect for fans of Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas.
“Filled with betrayal and intrigue, The Shadow Prince is a dark and twisty novella from an exciting new author!” Katee Robert, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
The Shadow Prince is part of the Mortal Enchantment box set.
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Excerpt #1 I was done waiting. “Excuse your minions. We need to talk.”
“What about?” she questioned coyly.
I wasn’t in the mood to play games. “You know what this is about.”
She turned to her followers and shooed them away. One by one, they got up and left the area. I saw her say something to the final person, but the music was so loud I couldn’t hear what they discussed. There was no point in asking, either. She wouldn’t tell me the truth.
“Why are you abdicating your throne?” I asked boldly.
Prisma stood, eyes widened as if she wasn’t expecting the inquiry. “Why are you questioning my decision? Most children would be thrilled to be in your position.”
“For the last sixteen years, I’ve barely seen you. Then, out of nowhere, you send Marcus to tell me that you plan to pass your crown to me. Wouldn’t that sound suspicious to you?”
She put her hand on her chest as if she was shocked. Always the drama queen. “Are you saying you don’t want to be king?”
“I’m asking,” I leaned toward her, resting my fists on the table. “What’s in it for you?”
“There’s nothing in it for me, my darling boy.” She waved her arm around. “As you can see, I have everything I need.”
I crossed my arms. “What do you want in return? I know there’s something.”
She sat down and ruffled the skirts of her gown. “I have been made aware of some concerns amongst the council.”
“Really?” I raised an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
With a look of concern on her face, she said, “You’ve spent your entire life away from our court, Rowan. Our kin hardly knows you.”
She had forgotten all about my forced exile. Here comes the truth. “I’m sure you’ve come up with a way for me to prove my loyalty to the council.”
With a dangerously sweet grin, she replied, “I want you to kill the halfling daughter of King
About the Author Award-winning author, Stacey O’Neale, lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she’s not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter.
Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult fantasy and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing.
Bestselling author J. Lynn Bailey is unveiling a teaser from THE LIGHT WE SEE, a stand-alone adult contemporary romance, releasing November 12, 2019. See below for information on the book, the exclusive teaser, and preorder links.
Synopsis From Carpinteria, California, we left.
In Arizona, we barely spoke.
In New Mexico, I gave him a promise that I knew I couldn’t keep.
In Texas, we slept under the stars.
In Oklahoma, he told me a story I wouldn’t soon forget.
In Louisiana, he gave my soul a voice.
Between Arkansas and Mississippi, we took full advantage of an opportunity.
In Tennessee, I studied his face.
In Kentucky, he introduced me to his parents.
In Ohio, he found my heart.
In West Virginia, we drank whiskey and told ourselves that truths are better left untold.
In Maryland, we felt the weight of the night.
In Pennsylvania, his wife called.
And in New York, I asked myself one question:
Would he be able to let me go when it was time?
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Author J. Lynn Bailey
About the Author J. Lynn is a bestselling author who hates to talk about herself. Loathes it.
More importantly, she’s the mother of two beautiful children and a wife to her high school sweetheart. She’s also a mother of two extremely needy cats, Leo and Vinni, and an Australian Shepherd named Grizz.
She lives with her family in a small town tucked away in the redwood forest, located on California’s northern coast.
Welcome to the book blitz for PANIC, the first book in the young adult science fiction romance series, Mass Hysteria, by Dawn Brazil. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
PANIC (Mass Hysteria #1) by Dawn Brazil
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: PANIC Series: Mass Hysteria #1 Author: Dawn Brazil Release Date: October 29, 2019 Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction Romance Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Mass Hysteria is a trilogy of young adult romantic/science-fiction serial novels that tell a continuous story. The books must be read in order, to fully understand the unfolding story.
High school can be hard, especially when your favorite horror movie becomes your reality…
High-School senior, Elizabeth calculates the likelihood of finding love to the probability of starring in a slasher film with her best friend, until she meets Brian Thompson. Love isn’t the only thing that eludes Elizabeth, however. Several threatening notes that promise her demise make a long life also questionable.
When Elizabeth’s best friend shares an article about the death of a girl in Italy, she dismisses it. As more girls are murdered, and cryptic messages are tucked in her locker, she realizes something sinister might be at play. Why? Each of the slain girls look like her.
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Excerpt The single slip of manila paper says only two words: “your next.”
Right away, a few things are apparent: this person’s command of the English language is severely lacking; the scrawl is most likely that of a teenage boy or a toddler of any gender; and thirdly, this note is different from the others. I glance around the brick pillar at the front of our house. The street is silent; not one person is outside from where I stand.
I ball the paper up and toss it in my purse.
I slide into the car beside Stacey and we head to the restaurant—in absolute silence. Silence has many forms. The form we exhibit is awkward—at least for best friends.
We both know why we’re going today. Stacey doesn’t agree with my sentiment for the day, though. I’ve read that if you toss a being outside their natural habitat, one of two things will happen—they will rise to the occasion, or die.
I’m a fighter. I should be able to master the social landscape of female teenagerdom, but it seems I can’t. I flounder—a lot. I cannot explain my high intellect and my innate ability to elicit cringes or gasps of shock when I speak.
Today, that changes.
Once we’re at the restaurant, Stacey says only four words: “This is ridiculous, hon.”
I disagree and we head inside to meet the other girls.
We arrive mid-joke. So, I time my laugh to spill from my lips at the perfect moment.
Except, the sensation rises from my abdomen like gravel tumbling through my mouth. Stacey turns, her lips pursed tight. The other girls stop giggling. Their purrs of laughter are in deep contrast to my piercing cackle.
They frown in unison—everyone but Stacey. She has an ‘I’m sorry I got you into this mess, hon’ look on her face. Though lacking in most social skills, I’m able to read their expressions: ‘What the hell was Stacey thinking, bringing the schizoid?’
I’m painfully aware something is off with me. On a scale of weirdness, I’m not Pinhead. I’m more Carrie, without the powers. I’d change this perception of oddness I convey, but I don’t know where to begin to work on myself. That’s why I’m here today.
Glancing around the table, I attempt a quick recovery. Dogs. Girls like dogs. “I have a dog. He’s the cutest little Pomeranian.”
My words are met with oohs and awws, but Stacey shakes her head once, slightly. I don’t know why she does it. I’ve hit a chord with these girls. I block her shaking head and the bombardment of senseless information streaming through my mind, and continue talking. “He’s a handsome little fur ball.”
“I love dogs,” one of Stacey’s friends says. “My Jax is too freaking cute.”
“My FeFe is too adorbs. What’s your dog’s name, Elizabeth?” Melissa, the closest girl to me asks.
“Norman Bates. He’s a—”
“You named your dog Norman Bates?” Melissa asks.
“Yes. He—”
“Like, isn’t that the crazy dude from that movie? The one who cross-dressed like his mom and like killed everyone?” someone else asks.
“Yes, it’s—”
“It’s kinda weird… well, a lot weird that you named your dog after a homicidal maniac,” Melissa says. No one speaks after her comment. They all stare in opposite directions.
I almost laugh at their reaction, but stop myself. A rush of thoughts hurry through my head: Melissa’s eyes are the color of her heart—black. She’s a modern Cruella DeVille. She’ll trample over her own mother to get what she wants, which is always materialistic and selfish. She’s also beautiful, and she hates me but loves my best friend Stacey.
I shake my head discreetly. They act like I told them I’m naming my firstborn Freddie Krueger. Which I would do, if I could have kids.
I strum my fingers over my jean shorts and count in my head. Counting reminds me not to speak and further add to the awkwardness of the moment.
“Norman Bates is the best dog name, ever,” Stacey says. She gives me a wink. “More importantly, has anyone seen that new movie? You know… the new romance?” Stacey snaps her fingers like she can’t remember. “Oh, I forget the name. But I heard it’s hot—full of steamy love scenes…” Everyone starts talking, each girl stumbling over the other to get a word in. Like if they don’t articulate what they have to say straightaway, their lives might be in peril.
I don’t understand girls, even though I’ve been part of the gender my entire life.
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Author Dawn Brazil
About the Author Dawn wants to live in a world fully inhabited by fictional characters. She thinks fictional characters are cooler than real people. Except herself, of course. But since the world is not comprised of dreamy book boyfriends, she creates them for everyone to fawn over. Her debut novel, Finding Me, book 1 in the Finding Me series, released on March 3rd 2016.
When she is not writing, she can be found with her nose in a book – swooning over another book boyfriend, drying up tears from a recent heartbreak, or shouldering a wound she received in battle. She also loves to create magic in the kitchen with an array of inspiring dishes she pulls from Pinterest. Dawn lives in South Texas with her sports obsessed husband, three technology infatuated teenagers, and her great, big, colossal imagination.
She is a master juggler and is working on two other Young Adult standalone novels – a high fantasy tearjerker and a science fiction story with a romance that will make your heart ache.
And she is passionate about superheroes – especially Wonder Woman!
Welcome to the book blitz for PRINCES OF LOWER EAST SIDE, the second book in the adult historical thriller series, Scalisi Family, by Meredith Allison. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
PRINCES OF LOWER EAST SIDE (Scalisi Family #2) by Meredith Allison
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: PRINCES OF LOWER EAST SIDE Series: Scalisi Family #2 Author: Meredith Allison Release Date: October 28, 2019 Genre: Adult Historical Thriller Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Mia Scalisi returns in this highly anticipated follow-up to Blood & Whiskey!
Sicily is a paradise on earth Mia Angela Scalisi doesn’t want to leave, but after over a year of peace, obligations—like being Hyman Goldberg’s It Girl at his new nightclub—call her back to New York City.
But everything she’s known in New York has changed…and that might even include the men she once thought were her friends.
When a new, ambitious gangster threatens to take over the old neighborhood, bringing devastation to the poor families who live there, Mia can’t ignore the bonds that tie her to the underworld way of life that killed her brother and set her upon a merciless, bloody path of revenge.
With her brother’s widow, her niece, and a mysterious, devoted bodyguard at her side, Mia must reclaim her position as head of her dead brother’s business, establish herself as the reigning queen among the princes of the Lower East Side, and make the ultimate decision: who lives, and who must die.
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Excerpt #1 Gloria said, hands on her hips. “You promised my husband to watch out for me and Em, but he would want me to watch over you, too. You need someone to look after you, Mia. To care for you. Even if you don’t think you need anyone.”
“I have Paolo.” Mia had asked him once if he’d known what she’d done in America. He understood English, so she spoke both Sicilian and English to him. Paolo had responded with a single, firm nod. And that had been the only time they had discussed it—as much of a discussion as could be had with a mute man.
When she’d announced to her family two weeks ago that she was returning to New York, there seemed an unspoken understanding Paolo would also make that trip. Nevertheless, Don Catalano, who had made the arrangements for her, had told her in no uncertain terms the fierce Sicilian man would be accompanying her as her bodyguard and remaining by her side in New York.
She had come to appreciate his silent presence, his protective hovering. It was hard to understand why he had chosen her to devote himself to, but it wasn’t a gift she was interested in questioning.
“I don’t trust Paolo,” Gloria said. “How do you trust a man who can’t talk?”
“I find him the most trustworthy of men for that reason alone.”
“You can’t travel and live on your own with a man you’re not married to,” she insisted. “You’re still just a young girl, after all.”
“I’ll be twenty-three in September.”
“You are a child,” Gloria repeated softly.
Mia smiled, a little bitterly, down at her small case of cosmetics, dropping the envelope on top. When she was a child, she’d lost both of her parents—her father to a heart attack when she was just a toddler. Her mother had died in a terrible fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, leaping from the top of the building in order to avoid being burned by the flames. Mia and Nick had been forced to hustle the streets, begging for handouts, learning poker to swindle the gangsters, stealing food, freezing nearly to death in their filthy tenement. She’d become a vaudeville performer, because young girls telling raunchy jokes to older men made money. When Nick had been drafted to the war, she’d worked a dozen hours a day for an abusive woman in a dress factory, just to keep a little food in her stomach. She’d known more about being an adult at twelve than most women her age knew now. Once she might have been proud of that, but now, it only made her sad.
Finally, she looked at Gloria. “I haven’t been a child for a very long time.”
About the Author Meredith Allison has embraced her nerdiness from youth, with minor jaunts of attempting to be “cool” during high school and college. Spoiler alert: she was unsuccessful at fooling anyone. After this dark period, she returned to the light, embracing her bookish nature and penchant for action and horror films, bloody survivalist video games (she’s looking at you, Resident Evil and Call of Duty) interspersed with the occasional sweeping fantasy adventure RPG (Final Fantasy, anyone?). Along the way, she developed her knack for storytelling, which began when she was a mere child-person many moons ago.
Meredith is a writer (and reader) of many kinds of fiction, but in particular spy thrillers, military-esque suspense, and historical crime. A native of Lincoln, Nebraska, she is by proxy a Huskers fan (GO BIG RED!), as UNL is her undergraduate alma mater, and moonlights as an obligatory Blue Jays fan due to completing her graduate MFA studies at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.
When she emerges from her writing cave, blinking in dismay at having to be exposed to the cruel light of day yet again, she can be found romping with her two Pomeranians, serving her overlord cat, hanging with her husband, battling it out with the undead or practicing a new kind of magery on her PlayStation, or simply huddled in a dark corner somewhere with just enough light to read a favorite book. Other interests include baking, cooking, and blogging about new restaurants.
Synopsis This spinoff of The Replacement Crush featuring Amy and Toff is sure to melt your heart.
Shy bookworm Amy McIntyre is about to compete for a dream scholarship, and the only way to win is to transform from sidekick to the heroine of her own life. But that level of confidence has never come easy.
The solution? A competition coach. The problem? The best person for the job is the guy she’s secretly crushing on…local surfer celebrity Toff Nichols.
He’s a player. He’s a heartthrob. He makes her forget basic things, like how to breathe. How can she feel any confidence around him?
To her surprise, Toff agrees to help. And he’s an excellent teacher. Amy feels braver—maybe even brave enough to admit her feelings for him. When their late night practices become less about coaching and more about making out, Amy’s newfound confidence wavers.
But does Toff really like her or is this just another lesson?.
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My Review Another home run by one of my all-time favorite young adult authors, Lisa Brown Roberts. In fact, THE BOOKWORM CRUSH is her best to date. This spinoff of THE REPLACEMENT CRUSH features Dallas’s best friend Toff, aka Flipper, and Viv’s best friend, Amy. Amy is on a mission to win a social media contest and meet her idol, romance author Lucinda Amorrato. Amy totally bombs it, literally and figuratively, on her first challenge, and it’s Toff to the rescue. He helps her escape from the police after her yarn-bombing of a park bench goes wrong. While the two have known each other forever, Toff only sees Amy as Viv’s nerdy book friend, but Amy has crushed on Toff for years. She’s shy and socially awkward, but she’s not a pushover. She reminds me so much of my own teen daughter I instantly loved her. But if she wants to win this contest, she’s going to need some swagger, and no one brings the swagger like Toff. She enlists him to coach her, knowing how dangerous this can be to her heart. Toff has his own demons, though. His father is getting married again. To Viv’s mother. And a much a he loves seeing his father happy again, he isn’t happy about the wedding. He just isn’t sure why.
The more time Toff and Amy spend together, the more Amy realizes her silly crush might just be something more, and the more Toff wonders how he never really noticed Amy before now. She has a fire and a spirit he admires. And when she starts to bring that swagger he so carefully coached, well, he feels things he never felt before. Things that are as exciting as they are confusing.
Plot The main plot is definitely the romance between Toff and Amy, but the contest is a strong subplot as is Toff’s future on the pro-surfing circuit and his coming to terms with his dad’s upcoming wedding. Told in dual POVs, we get deep inside both character’s. Every subplot supports the main plot, building tension, conflict, and complexity, making this more than just a lighthearted romance, though it is definitely that. But the subtle weaving of the subplots into the main plot makes this a story with depth. Each plot and subplot has enough contention and setbacks to keep the story moving and riveting.
The Characters The characters are amazing. These may be my all time favorite young adult characters. Toff is adorable a clueless surfer, albeit a bit of a player, but he never leads girls on. Which is why Amy’s reaction stuns him more often than not. And Amy is everything. Not only is she sweet and shy, but also passionate and driven. When she finds her swagger, she also finds strength and determination, never willing to just settle for whatever her longtime crush is willing to offer her. He love of books and devotion to her favorite author is endearing, but watching her come out of her shell made her someone to root for.
Top Five Things I Loved About THE BOOKWORM CRUSH 1. Amy. She’s funny, passionate, strong, brave, and smart — everything I want in my teen heroines.
2. Toff. He’s cute, funny, easy going, and a little clueless, but adorably sweet. And when he makes the big romantic gesture, he goes big instead of going home.
3. Surfing. I’m no surfer, by any stretch of the word, though I’ve tried it more than a few times. But my former roommate was a surfer and the whole surf culture is like a time warp for me. The lingo, the life, all of it brings back some of my favorite memories from that time in my life.
4. Books. As both a reader and a writer, books are life. The book-centric nature of this story wrapped around my heart and hugged it.
5. Growth. I loved watching both Toff and Amy grow through the story. Amy became the fierce competitor she always was, and Toff learned to accept that life and love evolve.
Bottom Line My favorite LBR novel and the best YA contemporary I’ve read in 2019.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author Lisa Brown Roberts’ award-winning YA romantic comedies have earned praise from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal.
Lisa’s teenaged self tweezed off all her eyebrows, crashed a car into a tree while trying to impress a guy, and accidentally went to prom with someone else’s boyfriend. When she couldn’t fix any of this in real life, she made up imaginary happy endings in her diary.
Not much has changed.
Lisa lives in Colorado with her family and many, many books.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE ASSASSIN AND THE SOLDIER, a stand-alone adult dystopian romance, by Carly Morgan. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE ASSASSIN AND THE SOLDIER by Carly Morgan
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: THE ASSASSIN AND THE SOLDIER Author: Carly Morgan Publisher: Eclipse Press Release Date: October 22, 2019 Genre: Adult Dystopian Romance Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Has she finally met her match?
During a time of political unrest, convicted assassin Kaelia gets a chance to win back her freedom on a reality TV show competition. Released temporarily from prison, the twenty-two-year-old is given fancy digs in a hotel and her very own personal trainer, Callan.
But Kaelia is harboring a secret: she isn’t like other people. Spliced with the DNA of some of the most predatory animals on the planet, Kaelia was grown in a lab as an embryo and possesses heightened strengths and abilities. She’s confident she will win the competition, and can do so without the likes of Callan Merone ‘training’ her.
But Callan, an ex-soldier for the totalitarian political party that imprisoned her, happens to have the very same secret. Eventually fed up with Kaelia’s arrogance and devil-may-care attitude, he turns her over his knee. For the first time in her life, Kaelia realizes there is someone in the world who can overpower her – and the idea is more arousing than she ever thought it could be.
Publisher’s Note: This steamy dystopian romance contains elements of power exchange.
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Excerpt “Stop, stop!” she cried at last, and her hands flew back to cover her hot bottom, the backs of them crisscrossed over one another across the center, forcing him to pause her spanking. “When will it stop?”
Suddenly he recalled what she had asked him earlier regarding the duration of her spanking, feeling immensely satisfied. Instead of the bratty tone she had taken before, this time, her words echoed with pleading forlorn desperation. Callan had a very strong hunch she’d never felt so overpowered and humiliated before in her life. He wondered if she’d had enough, after all, a wavering heat rose off her bottom and it was obviously tender to the touch. But no. This was the part when her lesson would really begin.
Gathering her wrists in one of his hands, so incomprehensibly large in comparison to her own delicate fingers and slender palms, he tucked them both away between his belly and her side, holding them there. Then he repositioned her, as she had flopped around quite a bit during her struggle to escape her spanking. Clutching her around her tiny waist, he propped her up on one leg while he clamped the other one down over her thighs, feeling her whole body tense in response. Then he lifted her bottom up higher, so that the rest of her hung at an even more severe angle, and bent low over her back to speak.
“It will stop when you learn how to be a good girl,” he said, his voice low and nearly taunting. His fingers grazed over her bottom, so very flushed and warm with heat, and then found them hovering over the hem of her panties again. Oh, modesty be damned, after the way she had acted, she very much deserved this spanking on the bare. With one swift tug, he whisked those panties down over her plump cheeks, leaving them to bunch into the crevice around her thighs.
Her whole body bristled as Callan took in the wonderful sight of her wholly naked ass, admiring the color he’d put on there with new appreciation. Her bare cheeks clenched and relaxed, driving him crazy with a desire he’d never truly known before. Suddenly, he couldn’t control the vision of his penis, hard and fully erect, plunging deep in-between those two, quivering cheeks. Callan could just barely see the soft lips of her vulva, slick and glittering with moisture. His breathing quickened and he was pretty sure he felt hers do the same.
“No,” she started to say, her voice barely a squeak, but Callan cut her off as he smashed his hand down over her pink, swollen cheeks, distracting himself from where his mind was attempting to go. He spanked her as if he were hammering a post into the ground, alternating his smacks to cover her whole, jiggly backside, and then concentrating on one spot for several moments to really drive the lesson in, listening as her cries intensified during those intervals. The pink shade very quickly gave away to a muddled maroon, and Kaelia wailed long, guttural, piteous sounds of remorse.
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Author Carly Morgan
About the Author Carly Morgan is the pen name for RaShelle Workman as she writes inspirational romance.
RaShelle Workman is an international bestselling author. Several of her books have been translated into Turkish and her BLOOD AND SNOW series has sold over a million copies worldwide. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys baking, creating new taco recipes, and watching Supernatural.
RaShelle lives in Utah with her husband, three children and their three dogs. Find her online by visiting her website and sign up for her newsletter to receive free books and get information on book release dates.
Welcome to the blog tour for WOODHOUSE HALL, a stand-alone adult contemporary chick lit, by Sara Marks, releasing October 28, 2019. See below for information on the book, preorder links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Amelia is stuck in the worst dorm on campus for a whole year! She’ll have to make the best of it in Woodhouse Hall and her roommate Jenna will be her new best friend, Amelia’s sure of that. Jenna’s sweet personality and openness to new things incite the matchmaking-genius in Amelia to find the perfect boyfriend for her new bestie. She shoots high by attempting to entice Eric, the President of the Student Government, to fall for her roommate. Amelia’s past success makes her confident they will be a couple in no time. When that turns out to be a disaster, she is forced to face the lies she’s told herself about her strengths and her assumptions about the people she loves. Over the year, Amelia learns who she is, what she wants, and how to fight for what’s really important.
This novel, inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma, will have you laughing, crying, and finding a little of yourself in one or all of the characters.
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Excerpt #1 “Woodhouse Hall isn’t that popular, is it?” Jenna asked me.
She hadn’t been in the room long; her unpacked bags were sitting on the floor, her bed was unmade, and her laptop was on the desk, still in the box. Her parents had left us alone while they moved the car to a parking lot. They planned to come back, help Jenna unpack, and then treat us to lunch. I already liked Jenna more than I expected and wanted to hang out with her.
“Not really, but it’s cheap.”
“I could only get a room here. I picked Lacock State practically at the last minute. Did you live here as a freshman?” Jenna said nodding.
“I was in the Honors Program Dorm.”
“Why didn’t you get a room there this year?”
I took my time answering this.
“I was going to get an apartment with my best friend Gwen, but she decided to move in with her boyfriend, Steve, before we picked a place. By then, Woodhouse was the only dorm left with an open bed.”
That wasn’t the complete story. I had set up Gwen and Steve a year ago because I knew they would be perfect together. Last May, when most people picked their dorms, she and I decided to share an apartment. We hadn’t been in a rush, coming out during the summer to look at different options. I began to panic when she dropped the bomb. Steve had asked her to move in with him too, and they had found a one-bedroom apartment about a mile away from campus. This is my own fault for being so good at playing matchmaker. I couldn’t be angry, but the woman in the housing office laughed at me when I called, desperate for a place to live. This was how Adam saved my butt. He got them to give me this room with Jenna since her original roommate had decided to go to another college. Adam knew exactly when the room opened as the floor’s RA. He knew exactly who to be kind to in the Housing Office. He’s charming when he wants to be.
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Author Sara Marks
About the Author Sara Marks is a librarian with two masters degrees and plans to never stop getting over educated. She likes the idea of having all the academic regalia she can ever possess. She cries at nearly every movie she sees (ask her about when she cried at a horror movie), but it’s full-on weeping for Disney animated movies. She loves reading nearly every genre but likes to write women’s fiction, romance, and even horror. You have to balance out the reality of the world if you’re going to be a hopeless romantic! Her heroines are women who don’t want the expected life, rarely worrying about their age, weight, marriageability, or fertility.
Welcome to the blog tour for DARK ‘N’ DEADLY, the the third book in the adult contemporary romantic suspense series, Federal K-9, by Tee O’Fallon. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
DARK ‘N’ DEADLY (Federal K-9 #3) by Tee O’Fallon
About the Book Title: DARK ‘N’ DEADLY Series: Federal K-9 #3 Author: Tee O’Fallon Publisher: Entangled Publishing Release Date: October 21, 2019
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Entangled
Synopsis They’d never so much as kissed, but Tess McTavish never forgot the handsome, dangerous agent, Eric Miller, who vanished in a shroud of mystery. Now the last thing she needs is an ATF agent with his own agenda. Doesn’t matter that Tess and her brother are innocent. If Eric learns the truth of their past, they’ll never be free.
Eric’s drive for revenge against the man who targeted him and his colleagues in a deadly explosion still burns hot inside him. Another bomb is about to be detonated and he’s sure there’s a connection between that man…and Tess’s family. But Eric and Tiger will do everything they can to protect the woman he’s falling for from what’s coming…
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Excerpt “Oh, c’mon, special agent. “Your chi is so out of sync, it’s not funny. Let me teach you some of my moves.” She hooked her hand around the crook of his elbow, intending to drag him to the mat, but he was as rigid as a marble statue.
“Your moves?” He arched a blond brow.
“I meant my yoga moves.”
Briefly, his lips quirked, then his eyes narrowed. “You’ve got five minutes. Not a second more.”
“Deal.” She dragged him to the mat, the heat from his body warming her hand.
Tiger uttered a gruff bark, as if he couldn’t believe Eric was actually giving yoga a whirl.
“Okay, kneel on the mat, and I’ll show you what to do.” After he kneeled, she did the same beside him on the carpet. “Now, place your hands flat on the mat, just wider than your shoulders.” His shoulders were so broad that his arm brushed hers, sending goose bumps racing up her spine.
Shake it off.
“Keeping your hands on the mat, push up and lift your hips up as far as they’ll go.” She demonstrated for him, and when he mimicked her movement…oh my. His sweats had tightened over his perfectly muscled gluteus maximus to the max.
“Tess. Tess,” he repeated when she didn’t answer right away. “Quit ogling my ass and tell me what to do next?”
Whoops. My bad. “Roll your shoulders to the floor and push your thighs back while you roll back on the balls of your feet. This, is downward facing dog.”
Tiger snorted and got to his feet. Warm doggy breath blew into her ear, making her flinch and jerk away, which sent her toppling sideways against Eric, who also lost his balance. The next thing she knew, her body lay full on top of his, both of them laughing as Tiger panted in their faces, looking mighty pleased with himself.
Still laughing, Eric flicked a finger at his dog. “Tiger, af.”
Tiger uttered a cross between a grunt and a thoroughly adorable whine, letting them know he was less than thrilled at being kicked out of the funhouse.
“Poor Tiger.” The dog’s sad brown eyes watched them longingly, and Tess couldn’t help but feel a stab of guilt.
“Trust me.” Eric laughed. “He’ll live.”
As their laughter ebbed, their gazes met, and she realized that, from head to toe, she was plastered on top of one very hard, very male body. Through her micro-thin yoga pants and top she felt every one of Eric’s well-defined muscles, from his thighs to his abs to his pecs. Her hands cupped his thick shoulders. His hands gently clasped her bare midriff.
Her heart raced double-time, then she realized it was his heart adding to the pulsing rhythm of her own. As she stared into the depths of his eyes, something passed between them. A seductive magnetism. An invisible emotion snapping in the air that refused to diminish no matter how much she wished it.
Pure, unadulterated, desire.
His hand skimmed her waist, sliding up her back to sift his fingers into the curls at her neck. Goosebumps erupted across her skin, and with it came the spiraling sensation of falling into a deep, dark crevasse, the bottom of which was endless and beautiful, and filled with something she so desperately wanted and needed.
Eric’s chest rose and fell beneath hers. He breathed through his open mouth, nostrils flaring, as if he was breathing her very scent into his lungs.
More warm breath blew into her face—his—and her gaze dipped to the curves of his lips, and the urge—no, make that need—for him to kiss her grew steadily until it was a palpable craving in her core.
Their personalities might be like yin and yang, two seemingly contrary forces, but the virtual energy crackling around them drew her closer. Closer to those sensuous lips she craved on hers. She imagined they’d be soft and hard at the same time, and dammit she really, really wanted to find out.
This is not a good idea, was the mantra that kept repeating over and over in her head. He’s a federal agent. Didn’t matter. Her common sense began crumbled like a house of sand.
About the Author Tee O’Fallon is the author of the Federal K-9 Series and the NYPD Blue & Gold Series. Tee has been a federal agent for twenty-three years and is now a police investigator, giving her hands-on experience in the field of law enforcement that she combines with her love of romantic suspense. Tee’s job affords her the unique opportunity to work with the heroic men and women in law enforcement on a daily basis. When not writing, Tee enjoys cooking, gardening, chocolate, lychee martinis, and all creatures canine. Tee loves hearing from readers and can be contacted via her website http://teeofallon.com where you can also sign up for Tee’s newsletters.
Welcome to the blog tour for FAMOUS, the eighth and last book in the adult contemporary romance series, Quantum, byNew York Times bestselling author, Marie Force. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
Synopsis I thought I’d finally met the man of my dreams…
Marlowe
I’ve planned this night for weeks, down to the last detail. I want it to be perfect. Bringing someone new into my private life is not something I do lightly, having learned the hard way over the years that celebrity has a dark downside that I go out of my way to avoid whenever possible.
But he is different. We’ve been together for months and the time is right to take this next step with him.
It doesn’t take long for me to realize I’ve made a huge mistake trusting this man.
Before things go from bad to worse, I have the presence of mind to know I’m in big, big trouble.
Marlowe Sloane’s story, FAMOUS, is the thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Quantum Series.
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Excerpt Chapter 1
Marlowe
I’ve planned this night for weeks, down to the last detail. I want it to be perfect. Bringing someone new into my private life is not something I do lightly, having learned the hard way over the years that celebrity has a dark downside that I go out of my way to avoid whenever possible. But Rafe is different. We’ve been together for months now, and I feel ready to take this next step with him. In the dungeon that’s accessible only to Quantum partners and our guests, I take a careful look at the items I’ve set out—a blindfold, a flogger, the smallest plug, a bottle of lubricant and a cock ring. I’m starting him off easy until I can get a sense of whether he shares my appreciation for the lifestyle.
I have a feeling he will, if our “vanilla” sex life is anything to go by. He’s endlessly creative and sensual in bed. When he whispers to me in French, I can nearly come from that alone. It’s been a very long time since anything vanilla appealed to me, but then again, the lifestyle hasn’t been doing it for me lately either. While I’m satisfied by the sex I have with Rafe, I feel like it could be “more,” and thus the reason I’m trying to add a little spice to an already satisfying relationship.
Before I met Rafe, I had confessed to my closest friends and business partners that I was feeling out of sorts and off-kilter. Spending time at the clubs we own here in LA and in New York City had become boring, especially since my buddies found love and more or less gave up the clubs. Getting naked in public lost its luster for each of them after they found “the one.” In our world, we’re always one tabloid photo away from disaster, so I get that they feel the need to protect their significant others from that kind of exposure.
We go to enormous lengths to protect the members of our clubs, including the requirement of a one-million-dollar entrance fee for new members and airtight nondisclosure agreements. But that didn’t stop someone in Devon Black’s equally exclusive club from taking photos of our partner Jasper Autry that were later used to blackmail him. We’re all a little gun-shy after that episode.
Rafe understands the celebrity culture because he works in our industry. As an executive for the company that distributes Quantum films—and many others—in France, he travels frequently between Paris and Los Angeles, hobnobbing with celebrities and working deep inside the business. From the beginning, I’ve felt comfortable being myself around him, because he understands the pressures I face. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way about a guy, and even though I can tell my friends don’t love him, I do, and that’s all that matters.
Or so I tell myself.
Truth is, their opinions matter to me, even if I wish they didn’t.
Especially Flynn and Hayden, who have been my closest friends for years. It’s so rare for me to be out of sync with either of them, let alone both, but from the outset, they’ve been rather obvious in their dislike of Rafe. I wish I knew why, but they won’t even give him a chance. Flynn’s wife, Natalie, and I talked about it over the holidays when we were all together for four memorable days in St. George, Utah, of all places.
As I light the candles in the dungeon, I think about that conversation as I have so many times since then.
“It’s not that he doesn’t like Rafe,” Natalie had said. “It’s more that he doesn’t like him for you.”
“Why?” I’d asked and immediately hated myself for the question as well as the desperate-sounding tone in which it was asked. I’m Marlowe fucking Sloane. What do I care if Flynn Godfrey or anyone else doesn’t like my boyfriend? Except… I care, and I hate that I care.
I could tell Nat chose her words carefully. “It’s just that he thinks you can do…better.” She cringed as she said that last word, and I realized I’d put her in a terrible position by bringing it up at all. The guys had gone off to find a Christmas tree for Aileen’s kids and had grudgingly invited Rafe to join them. That’s what had led me to ask her what the fuck Flynn’s problem was with him.
Be careful what you wish for. Flynn thinks he’s not good enough for me, which means Hayden, Jasper, Kristian, Emmett and Sebastian probably agree with him.
“Does everyone feel that way?” I’d asked Nat.
“I’m not sure.” She’d rolled her bottom lip between her teeth, which is a “tell” for her. She knows but doesn’t want to say. Fair enough. None of them like him.
“Does it matter to anyone that I like him?”
“Yes! Of course it does. That’s all that matters. If he makes you happy, we’re happy. You know that.”
I’d eyed her skeptically. “I’m happy with him.”
“Okay, then.”
“Okay.”
We’d changed the subject, but the uncomfortable conversation had stayed with me ever since. Natalie had tried to be diplomatic, walking a fine line between not betraying Flynn and trying not to hurt my feelings. She’d failed in the latter account. My feelings were hurt, and they still are. It’s been five freaking years since I dated anyone seriously, so I sort of feel like the guys could at least try to give me a break with Rafe.
I glance at the ornate clock on the wall. He’s going to be here in fifteen minutes. Time to get changed and stop thinking about why my friends don’t like him. They can go fuck themselves.
I remind myself again that they’re not in this relationship. Only Rafe and I are, and we’re the only two who matter. I’m the only who needs to like him and trust him and love him. It’s my life, and no one else is going to live it for me, no matter how much I love my friends. They’re wrong this time, and I am going to prove it to them by making this relationship work.
I’ve decided it’s time to bring Rafe into my lifestyle because I know we can’t succeed long term unless I let him all the way in. Each of the guys has had to do the same with their significant others and did so with stunning success if their happy, dopey grins are any indication.
That’s what tonight is all about for Rafe and me. Taking that next step. Depending on how this goes, I might be ready for what comes next, whatever that may be for a couple juggling a transatlantic relationship.
I’m nervous about tonight because I’m not entirely sure how he’ll react to my desire to dominate him. But I won’t know until I broach the topic with him. He already knows that I’m adventuresome in bed, but he has no idea just how adventuresome I can be. Tonight, he’s going to find out, and I’m excited as well as nervous.
I dart into the women’s changing room, take a quick shower and dress in one of my favorite outfits—a red leather bustier with a matching thong and sexy stockings with a flower pattern running through them. I’ve cut myself short on time, so I put my hair up in a bun and go with a smoky cat eye for my makeup. By the time my phone buzzes with the text I’m expecting from him, I’m ready.
After donning a red silk robe and black stiletto Louboutins with the fabulous red bottoms, I give myself a quick once-over in the full-length mirror and take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Here goes nothing…
In the lobby, I press the button for the elevator and take it up one floor to the main entrance to the Quantum office building. Most of the people who work here have no idea what’s in the basement. When the doors open, Rafe is facing away from me, looking out at the parking lot.
“Hey.”
“Why’d you want to meet here?” He turns to face me, his eyes widening when he sees me in the silky robe and heels. “Is this some sort of office fantasy or something?”
“Not quite.” I extend my hand to him. “Will you come with me and keep an open mind?” He’s absolutely beautiful, with thick wavy dark hair and brilliant blue eyes that crinkle at the corners when he smiles, which is often when we’re together.
He seems hesitant, but he takes my hand, links our fingers and kisses the back of my hand. “I shall happily follow wherever you lead, darling.”
Now imagine that said in a sexy French accent. I’m not one to swoon, but that accent does it for me.
He watches as I place my palm on the scanner that opens the elevator to the basement. “This all very cloak and dagger,” he says as we descend.
“Not really.”
We step out of the elevator, and the first thing we encounter is a reception desk. “This is where I have to ask you to sign a nondisclosure agreement that says you won’t disclose anything you see here.”
“Seriously?”
“Very seriously. If you need a minute to review it, I’m happy to wait.”
Giving me an odd look, he takes the pen I hand him, scans the NDA that spells out the lengths the Quantum partners will go to in order to defend the privacy of everyone who steps foot in our clubs and then scrawls his signature on the line provided. “What’s this all about, Marlowe?”
“Come with me, and I’ll show you.”
Taking him by the hand, I lead him through the double doors with our distinctive Q logo etched into the glass. To the casual observer, the big room we enter might be mistaken for a nightclub, especially now, when there’s no one else here. On a regular night, the place would be pulsing with people, energy and sexual tension. Scenes would be unfolding on the three stages, and potential partners would be negotiating hard and soft limits in the various seating areas and at the bar.
“What is this place?”
“Club Quantum.”
“How have I never heard of it?” Before we met, he’d been active in the LA club scene when he was in town.
“Because it’s private.”
“Still, with you and your illustrious partners involved, how does it stay a secret?”
“You read the NDA. That’s how.”
The face he makes indicates his skepticism that even an airtight NDA can keep the lid on anything in this day and age, and perhaps he’s right. Didn’t we learn that when Jasper was blackmailed?
On the far side of the big room, I place my hand on another scanner that opens the door to the dungeon. As we descend the stairs, I begin to feel seriously nervous. Am I doing the right thing? Will he understand? What if he doesn’t? Can I stay with him if he doesn’t get this or doesn’t even try to get it?
Don’t get ahead of yourself. One step at a time. You’ve done this before, and it’s been fine.
Rafe stops short at the entrance to the dungeon. “Holy shit. Are you fucking kidding me?”
“You promised to keep an open mind.” A trickle of unease travels down my backbone as I begin to wonder if I’ve seriously miscalculated.
He strides over to the table where I set out the implements of my craft and picks up the flogger, turning to me, his brow lifted and his mouth set in an expression I haven’t seen before. “What the hell is this, Marlowe?”
I normally love the melodic way he says my name, but there’s no melody to it now. There’s something that frightens me as I realize that no one except for him knows where I am or what I had planned for tonight. Not even my assistant, Leah, who always knows where I am. As he stalks toward me, his blue eyes blazing with anger, I take a step back, furious with myself for being so stupid. I’m thirty-five years old. I should know better by now than to ever put myself at the mercy of a man.
Ugh, they’re usually at my mercy, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Stop.” I hold up my hand to keep him from coming any closer to me. He doesn’t stop. “Rafe, I mean it. Take a pause.”
“Don’t tell me what to do when you’re springing this kinky bullshit on me months into our relationship.” A vein in his forehead bulges as he spews harsh words at me. “Why didn’t you tell me before now that you want to be tied up and flogged and whatever else?”
He’s spitting mad, and I’m trying to figure out why as I think about what I should say.
“Marlowe! What the fuck? You owe me an explanation!”
This is why Flynn and the others don’t like him. They could see he had this in him while I was too busy being besotted to see beyond the glossy surface, the French words of love and the romance of it all.
He’s played me for a fool, and the only thing I want now is to get as far away from him as I possibly can. Immediately.
“I’m sorry, Rafe. Obviously, I’ve made a mistake, and I’ll understand if you’d rather not see me again.”
“Not see you again? Is that what you think is going to happen here?”
“I’m not comfortable with the way you’re behaving.”
He doesn’t like that, and I quickly realize I’ve only made him angrier.
“Isn’t that rich, darling? You’re not comfortable with the way I’m behaving. After spending months together, you decide to show me you’re a kinky whore and you don’t like the way I’m behaving?” He lowers his voice. “You want me to beat you before I fuck you, is that it?”
“No,” I whisper. “That’s not it at all.”
“Then please illuminate me, because I don’t get it.”
The rebellious part of me, the part that fought and clawed her way to success in one of the toughest businesses in the world, rears up inside me. Fuck this shit. “I’m a Dominatrix. I wanted to beat you before I let you fuck me, but that’s not what I want anymore. What I really want now is for you to get the fuck out of here and never contact me again.”
His shock is apparent in the way his face loses all color and his lips go tight before he speaks again in a much lower tone. “That’s it? After everything we’ve shared, you’re going to dismiss me like I’m some kind of servant?”
“I’m asking you to leave.”
“Fuck you if you think you’re going to treat me like I’m nothing.” He moves so quickly, I don’t see it coming until my head snaps back and hits the wall behind me and my face explodes in pain that rattles my teeth. Then he grabs my hair and drags me across the room. I fight him with everything I’ve got, but I’m no match against him physically. He outweighs me by seventy pounds.
Before things go from bad to worse, I have the presence of mind to realize I’m in big, big trouble.
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Author Marie Force
About the Author Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. In 2019, her new historical Gilded series from Kensington Books will debut with Duchess By Deception.
All together, her books have sold 6.5 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list many times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news..
Today is release day for ALL THAT’S LEFT, the first book in the young adult contemporary, The Carlington Twins Duet, by Emma Doherty. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
ALL THAT’S LEFT (The Carlington Twins Duet #1) by Emma Doherty
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: ALL THAT’S LEFT Series: The Carlington Twins Duet #1 Author: Emma Doherty Release Date: October 24, 2019
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon FR |
Synopsis Izzy Kavanagh’s life falls apart when her mother dies. She is forced to move to the US and live with her absent father, who thinks money is the answer to every problem, and her twin brother Ethan, who she has barely spoken to in years.
She hates everything about the move. She hates that she’s forced to finish high school even though she’s already completed it in the UK. She hates that her father is controlling her and threatening to take away her inheritance if she doesn’t do as he says, even though he’s barely there and couldn’t care less about her. She hates that everybody already has an opinion on her based on her family name.
But what she hates above all else is having to see her brother every day in his perfect life where everybody worships him, because he chose this life over her and her mum.
And for that, she’ll never forgive him.
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Excerpt A chair is kicked out directly into my path, halting me in place. I turn to see where it’s come from and see Ethan is sat slouched in the chair opposite the one he’s shoved in my direction. Of course he’s in here. I should have thought about that, and I mentally kick myself for not thinking about him when I agreed to come in. My eyes scan around his table. It’s completely full. Every seat is taken, and there are people standing around on the edges, like they’re chatting to those that are sat down, only no one’s chatting right now. They’re all staring at me.
Ethan clears his throat and nods towards the only empty seat, which he’s kicked into my pathway. “I saved you a seat. Sit down and I’ll introduce you around.”
I pause whilst he stares back at me, his face totally expressionless unless you know him well and can detect the tenseness in his jaw. He’s not as comfortable as he’d like everyone to believe. We both know what this is. It’s a chance for me to slot into his life as his sister and take my place amongst his friends, to forget about the last six years. My eyes meet his and, just for a second, I see the hope that’s there before I shake my head.
No.
No, he can’t have it both ways. He can’t drop me as a twelve-year-old and then expect me to walk back into his life like nothing has happened. We can’t pretend the last five years didn’t happen and that he wasn’t there when I needed him. Neither of us say anything for a few seconds then I shove the chair back towards him with more force than is strictly necessary and go to move on.
“Izzy!”
I pause and look back at him. His eyes are still focused on me, but I’m acutely aware that it’s not just his eyes on me. His whole table is silent as they watch our exchange. “Just sit down, okay?”
“Yeah, come on, pretty girl. Sit with us.” I turn and see a grinning guy with light brown hair sat next to Ethan. It’s the same guy who was in my history class and wanted me to sit near him.
Ethan turns to face him. “Shut up, Logan. Didn’t you hear me this morning?”
The guy pales at the memory and the smile is wiped from his face. “Sorry, I’m just being friendly.”
“Well don’t,” Ethan snaps. He turns back to me. “Come on, sit down.”
“No, thank you.”
“Biz!”
I freeze completely, and my eyes find his. “Don’t call me that,” There’s a definite bite to my tone. Biz is what my mum used to call me. Ethan did too, to be fair, but I can’t hear that right now. Not when no one’s called me that since she died.
His eyes flash with annoyance. “Fine,” he bites out. “Take a seat, Isabella.” My eyes narrow, he knows I hate my full name and no one ever calls me it, not even teachers. I go by Izzy, as he knows full well. I shake my head and turn to walk away. “Actually, I heard you’re going by Kavanagh now.” There’s an edge to his voice that I’ve not heard before. “Been hearing all morning about the new girl Izzy Kavanagh.” Anger crosses his face, like it’s a personal insult to him that I’m not using the same surname as him. But why would I? I can’t stand my father, so why would I want his name? “Kavanagh,” he mutters like it leaves a bad taste, which is weird considering it’s his mum’s name too.
“I go by my mum’s name,” I tell him unnecessarily.
“Your mum’s name?” he asks incredulously. “Yours?”
“Yeah, I think they know each other,” someone mutters nearby, and someone else replies, “No shit.” Apart from that, there’s total and utter silence from his friends as they watch our exchange.
Ethan doesn’t even notice them. His focus is solely on me as he shakes his head and his hands clench into fists on the table. “You’re unbelievable, do you know that? You finally decide to turn up after four days and then I hear you’re using Kavanagh. You’re a…” He stops himself from finishing and instead takes a deep breath, in through his nose and out through his mouth, as though he’s trying to calm himself down.
But I’m interested now. “I’m what?” I step towards him. This isn’t like him. Usually he’s happy-go-lucky. Usually he doesn’t show his real feelings; he’s an expert at covering them. “Finish your sentence, Ethan,” I say sharply.
He throws his hands up. “You know what? I should just be grateful you showed, right? That you showed up and are gracing me with your presence. That you’re not drunk for the first time in days. That I actually know where you are for once.”
My eyes bore into his. Why is he acting like he’s concerned? Why is he acting like he’s bothered about my behaviour? He can’t suddenly start acting like this after years of silence between us.
My silence just pisses him off further. “Or maybe I should just be thankful that we’re actually having a conversation, right? Because God knows you don’t talk to me anymore,” he mutters snaps.
Finally. Finally he’s not being the perfect all-American teenager who’s bothered by nothing.
“I don’t even know…” His voice trails off as he shakes his head, like he wasn’t actually aware of what he was saying.
“Speak up, Ethan,” I tell him, putting my lunch onto the table in front of me and crossing my arms. “Use your words. Formulate a proper sentence.” I say just because I want to see how far I can push him to get a reaction. “Even you can manage to do that.”
“You fucking bitch,” he snaps before he can think, and I start to laugh as there are shocked gasps around us. I’m amused because my perfect brother is finally losing his control and showing me some of his true feelings for a change.
“Whoa, whoa,” Finn starts, looking at him in surprise before glancing back at me. “We all just need to chill out.”
Neither Ethan nor I acknowledge him.
“Yeah,” Logan starts. “I think maybe you should go sit somewhere else, pretty girl.”
Ethan turns to glare at him. “Stop calling her that. I already told you guys to leave her alone. If I find out any of you guys have gone near her, I swear to God you’ll regret it.”
Finn looks startled at the anger in Ethan’s tone as I start to laugh and say, “It’s a bit late to start worrying about my honour, Ethan. That went a long time ago.”
He winces as he realises what I’m saying. At the look on my face, his wince turns into a glare. “Just shup up.” He turns to look back at his friends. “I mean it. She’s off limits.”
“We got it, E,” Finn assures him just as the blonde at Ethan’s side—the girl Pippa shied away from earlier, the one who’s been looking steadily more and more pissed off throughout our conversation—finally explodes. “WHAT THE HELL, ETHAN? Why are you telling people she’s off limits?”
He barely glances at her. “I’ll tell you later, Evie,” he says distractedly, dismissing her.
Evie. That’s the name of the girl I know I don’t like without even saying a word to her.
Ethan is reaching down and grabbing his bag, and he’s rounded the table before I tear my eyes away from Evie, having matched the look she’s giving me with one of my own. “Come on,” he starts, grabbing my arm. “I want to talk to you.”
I snatch my arm back from his grip. “Don’t touch me,” I snap. I already have one family member trying controlling me and telling me what to do. I don’t need another. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
That seems to be the last straw for Ethan. “You are a fucking nightmare. Do you know that? I’ve been worried about you all week and you just turn up like nothing’s wrong. You are so selfish and…” He stops abruptly, clamping his mouth shut as he realises just how much we’re being scrutinised, but I want to hear more.
“Go on,” I tell him, my voice low. “Tell me what you think.”
He takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Let’s just get out of here.”
I take a step closer to him. “Tell me what you think of me, Ethan,” I challenge quietly. I pause whilst he just glares back at me, his whole body radiating tension. When he doesn’t respond, I continue. “Do you want to know what I think of you?” There’s no need to raise my voice. There’s total silence around us, and it’s not just his table watching us anymore, but I don’t care. I’ve been itching to tell Ethan what I think of him for months, if not years, and if this is the place where I do it, so be it. I take another step closer to him. “I think that you are a pathetic excuse for a so—”
“WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?” Evie suddenly erupts from her place at the table. She stands and comes to face me, flanking Ethan on his left. “YOU DO NOT SPEAK TO US LIKE THAT.”
“I don’t remember speaking to you. Did I?”
Her jaw falls open. Clearly she’s not used to people speaking back to her. She crosses her arms over her chest and takes a step closer to me. “You need to be careful.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“You don’t have a clue what you’ve just done.” Her dark blue eyes bore into me, and a smile takes over her lips. “You just made a big mistake,” she warns me. “You just committed social suicide, babe. I don’t care about your dumb accent or your designer handbag. You’re officially done here.”
“I’m done?”
“I’m gonna make sure of it. I’m gonna be your worst nightmare.”
Ethan’s head snaps to her in surprise, and he scowls in disgust. “Evie, stop. Don’t be such a bitch.”
She looks utterly flabbergasted that he’s defended me.
“I don’t need your help, Ethan,” I tell him.
He turns to me. “It would be really good if you could just shut your mouth right now, Biz.”
“Shut up.”
“What did you say?” Evie demands, pushing past Ethan to get closer to me. It’s obvious she’s getting more and more agitated that there’s something going on that she doesn’t understand.
“I said ‘Shut up.’ Want me to spell it for you?”
Her face turns red with fury and she leans towards me. “I don’t know who you think you are with that stupid accent—”
“British,” I interrupt her. “It’s a British accent. You might have heard of it? Collection of countries in Europe? The UK?”
She splutters for a minute. “Whatever. I don’t care where you came from—in this school you don’t speak to us like that, and you definitely don’t speak to Ethan Carlington like that. Do you even know who he is?”
I glance over at Ethan, who looks like he wishes he’d never bothered stopping me. “Yes, I’m aware of who Ethan Carlington is.”
“Well then you should know he’s not even on your level, babe. His dad owns this town, and if your family wants to settle in, it’s best not to piss off his son.”
Ethan’s jaw falls open at her words, and I wonder just how good she usually is at hiding her bitchy behaviour. I’ve no doubt this is her true character, but I wonder how often she actually shows it to Ethan and his friends, because the Ethan I knew would never tolerate this. He would never want to be around someone who behaves like this.
I tilt my head as I survey him. “Wow. Sounds like you’ve got a really great dad. Lucky you.”
He rolls his eyes at me in irritation, and it only infuriates her further.
“You’re done here,” she continues, glaring hard. “I wouldn’t even bother coming back if I were you.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask, taking a step towards her so we’re almost touching. She’s gorgeous, no doubt about that, and she definitely knows it, but she’s one of those girls who needs to make everyone else feel bad just to make herself feel better. “Why? What are you going to do?”
She smirks at me, and I can see it in her eyes. She thinks she’s going to shut me down the way she’s probably shut down countless girls before just because she doesn’t like something about them, or just because she’s bored. Either way, I can promise she’s not going to do it to me. “You just wait. You’ll regret ever stepping foot in this school. I’m gonna enjoy this.”
I grin and glance over at Ethan, who is staring at Evie in disbelief, like he doesn’t even recognise her. “Did you hear that, Ethan? Your little friend here is threatening me.”
“Could you stop trying to wind everyone up for just a second?” he snaps at me before turning to Evie. “And don’t talk to her like that. What is wrong with you?”
Evie’s face turns red at the reprimand. “I was just…I was sticking up for you.”
“Awww. It’s sweet that you want to fight your friend’s battles, but he’s a big boy.”
She turns back on me. “He’s my boyfriend,” she bites out, like it’s something I should just know. “And you can make sure you stay away from him.”
Of course she’s his girlfriend. Of course.
I start to laugh and look at Ethan, who looks positively mortified. “Seriously?” I ask. “This is your girlfriend?” I let my eyes sweep around the cafeteria, taking in the faces looking back at me. “Must be slim pickings around here if she’s the best you can do.”
It’s the final straw for Evie, and a growl leaves her mouth as she lunges at me, but Ethan catches her around the waist before she gets to me. He pulls her back, and she turns to look at him, hurt and confusion crossing her face. “Why are you defending her?” she asks him. “Why are you taking her side when she’s speaking to you like that?” She turns to look back at me. “Who are you?”
I stare back at her and let out a humourless laugh. “Who am I?” I step closer to her, my eyes boring into hers. I glance at Ethan, who is glaring back at me, before turning back to this girlfriend. “I’m his twin.” I pause as I watch her eyes widen in disbelief. “Who the hell are you?!”
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Author Emma Doherty
About the Author Emma Doherty was born in Yorkshire, England. She attended university in Newcastle before moving to London. She loves to travel, write, spend time with friends and family and hear from her readers.
Welcome to the blog Tour for SIREN SONG, the third book in the young adult paranormal romance series, The Chameleon Effect, by Alex Hayes. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
SIREN SONG (The Chameleon Effect #3) by Alex Hayes
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: SIREN SONG Series: The Chameleon Effect #3 Author: Alex Hayes Release Date: October 15, 2019
Genre: Young Adult/New Adult Paranormal Romance
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Synopsis Connell Kurēn doesn’t love being a paparazzo…
He’s a member of the most scorned profession in Hollywood, but he’s good at it, and a hard-ass to boot.
He might also be called an ambulance chaser, though not for the disreputable reason he chases celebrities. Connell has the ability to heal, and at the sound of a siren, he is drawn to those in need.
Life is just fine until his pushy paparazzi nature almost gets someone killed.
Rowan Bren suffers post-traumatic stress and a permanent headache following a near-death experience at the hands of her mortal enemy. After months, she still isn’t right, but she won’t be held back from seeking her bond mate, Con, any longer.
She travels to Los Angeles motivated to help her friend, Idris, with his brilliant plan to locate their missing people. But Rowan’s top priority in the City of Angels is to find Con. She doesn’t know where he lives, but she’s not worried, because her crystal will lead her straight to him.
When she trips into his world, she finds a man so different from the person she expects, she fears he might not be Con at all. That he might be possessed by an evil force like the one that almost killed her.
SirenSong is the third novel of the Chameleon Effect series.
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Excerpt #3 The sirens get closer. I’ve a few minutes at most before the emergency vehicles arrive.
I dart, light and birdlike, up the whitewashed stairs to peer through the back door window of a second-story apartment.
An elderly woman in pants and a blue sweatshirt lies on the kitchen floor, a Life Alert bracelet visible below her right cuff. If it weren’t for that wristband, an ambulance wouldn’t be on its way and I wouldn’t be here.
I lift a hand to the doorknob—unlocked. Breathing a sigh, I slip inside silently, the morning light streaming through me.
One touch to her head and I sense the problem. Lesions in the brain, most likely from a stroke. I check her heart. Beating. Rapid but strong.
Dropping to my knees, I push my voluminous wings out of the way and cup her head of fluffy white curls in my palms. The scent of Nivea and cocoa butter hits me.
I shift my attention to the work at hand. Healing flesh isn’t difficult. Surprisingly, internal injuries are easier to mend than epidermal ones. Bone and tendon damage are the toughest to fix.
A couple of minutes is all it takes to repair the burst blood vessels and damaged cells, and restore blood flow to the compromised areas of the brain. Her breaths deepen and she stirs.
Time to get out of here. Just need to unlock the front door so the paramedics can get in without breaking anything.
I slip through the peach-colored apartment. The place has seen better days, but it’s neat and clean. I reach the door as the sirens cut. An ambulance is right outside, two stories below. I release the chain, unlatch the deadbolt and turn the doorknob lock.
Good to go, I hurry back through the apartment. My wing catches the edge of a table, rattling knickknacks. I save a porcelain statue of Mary holding Baby Jesus, set it straight and rush into the kitchen.
The old lady’s sitting up, rubbing her head. I left the swollen bump on her cranium resulting from the fall, a surface wound that will heal quickly on its own. If I healed every injury, the paramedics might get suspicious.
While her back is turned, I pull open the rear door, but its soft squeak makes her look around.
My breath falters. I’m invisible, but being stared at disturbs me. Hopefully, she’ll put the open door down to the wind.
She squints in my direction as I tease the door wider. Sunlight floods the kitchen, turning the discolored linoleum tiles at my feet bright white.
A gentle smile lifts her lips. “Thank you, dear.”
I freeze.
A sharp knock at the front door.
“Hello? Anyone in there?” comes a muffled shout. “Emergency Services. We’re responding to a Life Alert alarm.”
The lady glances in the direction of that voice, then returns her gaze my way. She can’t possibly see me.
Her smile widens. “Now, off you go, angel. I’m sure you’ve got plenty more people to save today.”
Without further hesitation, I slip through the door, race down the fire escape and take off from the alley.
Flight is the only antidote to an experience like that.
Did she spot me?
I shake the thought away. If she had, she wouldn’t have called me an angel. If I were visible, she’d have called me an ugly crow.
It was the open doorway, the bright shaft of sunlight. Who wouldn’t imagine a celestial being had just paid a visit? I might have myself, and I don’t believe in angels.
About the Author Alex Hayes wrote her first fiction story when she was twelve. Inspired by her mother’s storytelling, she began work on her first novel, Ice Cracks, at eighteen.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. In her twenties, she moved from Marin County, California to Boston, Massachusetts, where she built a career as an IT professional in database engineering. In 2004, she self-published Ice Cracks, which became a semi-finalist in the 2005 IPPY Awards.
Alex splits her time between Grand Junction, Colorado and Guanajuato, Mexico. When she isn’t writing, she’s helping her partner, Lee, renovate a 450 year old hacienda. She is mother to one beautiful daughter and many wonderful cats..
Welcome to the blog tour for MOST ARDENTLY, a stand-alone adult contemporary LGBTQ+ romance, by Susan Mesler-Evans. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Elisa Benitez is proud of who she is, from her bitingly sarcastic remarks, to her love of both pretty boys and pretty girls. If someone doesn’t like her, that’s their problem, and Elisa couldn’t care less. Particularly if that person is Darcy Fitzgerald, a snobby, socially awkward heiress with an attitude problem and more money than she knows what to do with.
From the moment they meet, Elisa and Darcy are at each other’s throats — which is a bit unfortunate, since Darcy’s best friend is dating Elisa’s sister. It quickly becomes clear that fate intends to throw the two of them together, whether they like it or not. As hers and Darcy’s lives become more and more entwined, Elisa’s once-dull world quickly spirals into chaos in this story of pride, prejudice, and finding love with the people you least expect.
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Excerpt Even for Darcy, this was low. First what she’d done to Wick, and now this.
It was official, Elisa decided. Forget the idea that she’d been too harsh, or judged too quickly. Darcy Fitzgerald was the most conceited, most vile, most insufferable person on the planet. She was stuck-up, and cruel, and… and… and…
“Elisa.”
She let out a yelp, before turning around.
Darcy was standing there, blue pea coat with matching boots, looking apprehensive. Had someone told her what Elisa had found out? If she was here to try and apologize, she would have to restrain herself from tossing her onto the ice.
“Colin told me you’d gone for a walk. I followed your footprints,” Darcy said. “I have an important matter to discuss with you.”
“Did he tell you I want to be alone?” Elisa asked, voice shaking a bit, furious just from the sight of her.
“Yes. But I need to talk to you when we’re alone, and we may not get another chance this weekend. That was… actually the entire reason I agreed when Colin invited me on this trip. I wanted to see you.”
“Darcy, I promise you, whatever you have to say, I don’t want to hear it.”
“I have a present for you.”
She blinked. “Um. What?”
Darcy reached into her pocket, and produced a small, heart-shaped box of chocolates, handing it to her. She took it, mainly because she was at a loss as to what else she could do. This wasn’t one of the cheap boxes they sold at the drugstore – these were expensive. Fancy. When she took a closer look, she saw that Darcy had scribbled a message in Sharpie on the front.
For Elisa Benitez. I hope you enjoy these as much as I’ve enjoyed knowing you. – Darcy Fitzgerald.
Slowly, Elisa raised her head to look at her again. She was shuffling nervously on her feet, clearly waiting for some kind of reaction. When Elisa didn’t speak, she filled the silence for her.
“I agonized over whether to get those for you,” she admitted. “I knew I wanted to get you something for Valentine’s Day, but I was worried the chocolates might be cliché. But then I thought to myself, they became cliché for a reason, and I know you enjoy chocolate, so I decided to just go for it.”
“Um—thanks, I guess, but—” She was so confused, she had nearly forgotten she was mad at her. “Why are you… why are you giving me a Valentine’s Day present at all?”
Darcy took a shaking breath, before stepping closer to her.
“Elisa, I have struggled in vain for the past few months. Ever since the day you and I met, really. But it cannot go on like this. I have something to say to you, and I ask that you listen to me. I admire you greatly, Elisa, and please believe me when I say that I most ardently love you.”
Elisa dropped the box of chocolates. She stood, frozen in place, staring at Darcy, searching her face for any sign that she was kidding. She found none. Finally, Elisa managed to force out a response.
“What?”
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Author Susan Mesler-Evans
About the Author Susan Mesler-Evans is a writer, college student, D&D enthusiast, theatre nerd, and horrific procrastinator. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Susan now lives in Florida, and can often be found reading, scrolling through Tumblr until 2 AM, overanalyzing her favorite fictional characters and relationships, bingewatching comedies on Netflix, thinking about writing, and even, on occasion, actually writing. Most Ardently is her first full-length novel. You can find her at susanmeslerevanswrites.com.
Today is release day for FAMOUS, the eighth and last book in the adult contemporary romance series, Quantum, byNew York Times bestselling author, Marie Force. See below for information on the book and buy links.
Synopsis I thought I’d finally met the man of my dreams…
Marlowe
I’ve planned this night for weeks, down to the last detail. I want it to be perfect. Bringing someone new into my private life is not something I do lightly, having learned the hard way over the years that celebrity has a dark downside that I go out of my way to avoid whenever possible.
But he is different. We’ve been together for months and the time is right to take this next step with him.
It doesn’t take long for me to realize I’ve made a huge mistake trusting this man.
Before things go from bad to worse, I have the presence of mind to know I’m in big, big trouble.
Marlowe Sloane’s story, FAMOUS, is the thrilling conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Quantum Series.
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Author Marie Force
About the Author Marie Force is the New York Times bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the indie-published Gansett Island Series and the Fatal Series from Harlequin Books. In addition, she is the author of the Butler, Vermont Series, the Green Mountain Series and the erotic romance Quantum Series. In 2019, her new historical Gilded series from Kensington Books will debut with Duchess By Deception.
All together, her books have sold 6.5 million copies worldwide, have been translated into more than a dozen languages and have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list many times. She is also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller, a Speigel bestseller in Germany, a frequent speaker and publishing workshop presenter as well as a publisher through her Jack’s House Publishing romance imprint. She is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA® award for romance fiction.
Her goals in life are simple—to finish raising two happy, healthy, productive young adults, to keep writing books for as long as she possibly can and to never be on a flight that makes the news..
USA Today bestselling author, R.J. Prescott, is unveiling the cover to THE FIRE, the fourth book in the new adult contemporary romance/romantic suspense series, The Hurricane, releasing November 5, 2019. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE FIRE (The Hurricane #4) by R.J. Prescott
About the Book
Title: THE FIRE Series: The Hurricane #4 Author: R.J. Prescott Release Date: November 5, 2019 Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense Links: Goodreads
Synopsis FROM GOODREADS DEBUT FINALIST AND USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE HURRICANE COMES THE FIRE.
Evelyn Danaher lives a quiet, uneventful life. That is until she meets Tommy. The only man who makes her lose control of her temper and her knickers at the same time.
Tattooed Irish firefighter Tommy Riordon found the woman of his dreams, then crashed and burned when a misunderstanding left him on his knees, clutching his balls.
They are wrong for each other in every way. But the very best love stores are the ones that shouldn’t work. After all, the fire that doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.
Contemporary Romance. Contains sexual situations, violence, offensive language and mature topics. Recommended for age 18 years and up.
About the Author USA Today bestselling author R.J. Prescott was born in Cardiff, South Wales, and studied law at the University of Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation she fell in love, and stayed. Ten years later, she convinced her crazy, wonderful firefighter husband to move back to Cardiff where they now live with their two equally crazy sons. Her debut novel The Hurricane was an international bestseller and finalist in the Goodreads Awards in the category of debut author.
Welcome to the blog tour for AMBER SKY, a stand-alone adult contemporary romance/thriller by New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
Synopsis From New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo comes a new stand-alone novel Amber Sky, the haunting, atmospheric love story of Walker Ainsley and Cassidy O’Connor.
A devastating car crash leaves Cassidy O’Connor stranded in rural Pennsylvania. Her only company is Walker Ainsley, the ruggedly handsome man who saved her from the wreckage and took her into his home. But when her ride back to town arrives after the crash, Cassidy can’t bring herself to leave Walker behind. She is determined to convince him to go back to town with her, until she begins to wonder if she actually survived the crash that brought them together.
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Excerpt #2 The door to Walker’s bedroom is wide open. As I approach, I try to think of what I’ll say when I wake him. But when I arrive at the threshold, I find him awake, sitting on the windowsill, gazing out at the night sky. He’s wearing nothing but a pair of jeans, and his dark hair is wild, as if he’d been tossing and turning before he got up.
I enter without announcing my presence, but a creaky floorboard does it for me. Walker turns his head slowly to watch me approach. He doesn’t seem surprised to see me in his bedroom.
I stand next to him and look out the window to see what he’s gazing at. The sky is pitch black and studded with twinkling stars of various sizes and colors. It’s not a city night sky, muted by light pollution. It’s a brilliant, shimmering cloak wrapped around the world, beckoning us to embrace the night.
When I turn away from the window, Walker is staring at me, a new quiet confidence in his eyes. The moonlight paints silvery streaks over his cheekbones, collarbone, and pectoral muscles. He looks beautiful enough to paint.
Taking a cue from the look in his eyes, I turn toward him to let him see all of me. His gaze skims over every inch of my body, stopping for a while on my breasts. Taking a step forward, I take his hand in mine and hold it for a moment. When his eyes look up to meet mine, I lay his hand on my chest, so he can feel my heartbeat.
The corners of his mouth turn up at the sensation of my pulse pounding against his fingertips. “You are real.”
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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.
Today is release day for DARK ‘N’ DEADLY, the the third book in the adult contemporary romantic suspense series, Federal K-9, by Tee O’Fallon. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
DARK ‘N’ DEADLY (Federal K-9 #3) by Tee O’Fallon
About the Book Title: DARK ‘N’ DEADLY Series: Federal K-9 #3 Author: Tee O’Fallon Publisher: Entangled Publishing Release Date: October 21, 2019
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Entangled
Synopsis They’d never so much as kissed, but Tess McTavish never forgot the handsome, dangerous agent, Eric Miller, who vanished in a shroud of mystery. Now the last thing she needs is an ATF agent with his own agenda. Doesn’t matter that Tess and her brother are innocent. If Eric learns the truth of their past, they’ll never be free.
Eric’s drive for revenge against the man who targeted him and his colleagues in a deadly explosion still burns hot inside him. Another bomb is about to be detonated and he’s sure there’s a connection between that man…and Tess’s family. But Eric and Tiger will do everything they can to protect the woman he’s falling for from what’s coming…
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Excerpt With each clash of their hips, his gaze was drawn to Tess’s khaki shorts, and the sleekest, smoothest, prettiest sun-kissed legs he’d ever seen. A snug green tank top that he guessed would match her eyes perfectly, contrasted with the orange, red, and yellow scarf drawn through her belt loops. As she danced and swayed, sunlight pouring through the window glinted off the purple polish on her toes and fingers, and the long, beaded earrings.
Slurping drew his attention to the kitchen floor by the cooktop. Tiger eagerly licked up what looked like a mixture of scrambled eggs and melted cheddar that had fallen onto his once-clean floor. He opened his mouth, about to say something along the lines of what the hell? but stopped, and instead, crossed his arms and leaned against the door jamb.
“Sweet Caroline, good times never seemed so good,” they shouted so loudly he cringed, although in reality they were pretty good at holding a tune, and he was… What?
Envious.
They were having fun, something he and his sister had never been able to do as kids. There’d never been music or laughter in his family’s kitchen. If he and Maggie had ever been caught doing the Karaoke-thing, they would have gotten their asses paddled so hard they wouldn’t have been able to sit for a week.
Excited by all the noise, Tiger barked, insinuating himself between Tess’s and Jesse’s legs. She turned to give the dog a pat on his head when she caught sight of Eric. Her eyes went wide, confirming his thoughts on the color of her shirt, then she grabbed the phone and turned off the music.
Jesse ruffled Tiger’s ears, which his dog seemed to love, judging by the way he leaned into the kid’s hand and groaned.
“I’m sorry. I hope we didn’t—” Tess gasped.
“Holy shit, dude,” Jesse whispered.
Eric pushed from the door with one singular thought singing in his head: caffeine, then reached for the clean mug she’d set on the counter and poured a cup. Tilting the mug, he downed half of it before coming up for air. When he turned, Tess and Jesse were staring at him. More specifically, at his chest.
While he’d been drowning in caffeine, Tess had come closer and now stood only inches away. She smelled like the honeysuckle shampoo his sister had left behind in the guest bathroom.
With her mouth half-open, she touched her fingers to his left pec, grazing one of his scars. Her fingers were warm and gentle, and his pectoral muscle twitched as if it had a life of its own. She dropped her hand, her green eyes soft and brimming with compassion.
Compassion he didn’t want, but it was his own damn fault for waltzing down here without putting on a shirt. Something else he’d have to get in the habit of doing.
“My god, Eric.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “What happened to you? How did you get all those scars?”
“Dude, you look like you got peppered with shrapnel, and that one on your back…” Jesse whistled. “That musta hurt like a bitch.”
It had. Not nearly as much as losing his friends.
The scars all over his torso weren’t raised and red anymore, and they were gradually fading, day by day. The pain of losing his friends, however, would always be there. Along with the survivor’s guilt that shadowed him every day of his life.
About the Author Tee O’Fallon is the author of the Federal K-9 Series and the NYPD Blue & Gold Series. Tee has been a federal agent for twenty-three years and is now a police investigator, giving her hands-on experience in the field of law enforcement that she combines with her love of romantic suspense. Tee’s job affords her the unique opportunity to work with the heroic men and women in law enforcement on a daily basis. When not writing, Tee enjoys cooking, gardening, chocolate, lychee martinis, and all creatures canine. Tee loves hearing from readers and can be contacted via her website http://teeofallon.com where you can also sign up for Tee’s newsletters.
Today is release day for MOST ARDENTLY, a stand-alone adult contemporary romance, by Susan Mesler-Evans. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Elisa Benitez is proud of who she is, from her bitingly sarcastic remarks, to her love of both pretty boys and pretty girls. If someone doesn’t like her, that’s their problem, and Elisa couldn’t care less. Particularly if that person is Darcy Fitzgerald, a snobby, socially awkward heiress with an attitude problem and more money than she knows what to do with.
From the moment they meet, Elisa and Darcy are at each other’s throats — which is a bit unfortunate, since Darcy’s best friend is dating Elisa’s sister. It quickly becomes clear that fate intends to throw the two of them together, whether they like it or not. As hers and Darcy’s lives become more and more entwined, Elisa’s once-dull world quickly spirals into chaos in this story of pride, prejudice, and finding love with the people you least expect.
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Excerpt Charlene had gotten stuck dancing with Colin again. Well, maybe “stuck” was the wrong word. He’d been very polite about asking, and he was actually a pretty good dancer. And they’d been right next to a speaker, so the music was able to drown most of his latest speech out.
She had ducked into the bathroom, and was about to leave her stall to wash her hands when the door opened again, and three sets of feet walked in. They all stopped at the mirror, doing their makeup. And gossiping.
“I can’t believe Bobby has been talking to her all night,” a familiar voice said. It was either Cora or Louise, but Charlene had no idea how to tell them apart. “It isn’t her birthday.”
“I know. And she’s not even as pretty as his last girlfriend,” the other twin said. “And her family.”
“God, I know. I’m embarrassed for them. Even the one that’s not actually related to them.”
“The middle sister is so boring. And ugly.”
Charlene felt her chest tighten on Maria’s behalf.
Option 1: Burst out of the door and scream at them both for being judgmental brats, and probably prove their point.
Option 2: Stand here and do nothing.
Ugh. This is bullshit.
“And the youngest… God, what a train wreck, am I right?”
Both twins laughed.
“She’s a teen pregnancy waiting to happen. I hope Bobby gets over Julia or whoever soon. Then he can go back to girls actually worth his time, right, Darcy?”
That explained who the third girl was.
“I don’t do gossip,” Darcy said.
“Oh, come on, we’re alone.” Charlene barely repressed a snort. “You can be honest.”
“Yeah, didn’t you get stuck dancing with the fat one?” the other twin asked.
“Her name is Elisa,” Darcy said, voice suddenly sharp. “And I wasn’t stuck. I could’ve said, no.”
“We saw her screaming at you earlier.”
Oh, Elisa, what did you do now?
“She wasn’t screaming. It was just a disagreement. Very mature.”
“She looked really pissed off.” There was a pause. “What are you thinking about? You have that look on your face.”
It was a moment before Darcy answered. “Not much. Just the… joys of a spirited girl and a pair of fine eyes.”
One of the twins snorted. “Man, you’re weird. Who talks like that?”
“I knew getting her that word-a-day calendar was a bad idea,” the other said. “Come on, Cora, let’s go dance. I think they’re back to good music.”
Cora and Louise left, and Darcy was quick to follow. Finally free, Charlene popped out of the stall, and washed up as quickly as possible so she could find her friend. She couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d overheard. She had a bad vibe from Cora and Louise right from the start, but she’d tried not to judge too much. (Leave that to Elisa.) But it looked like in this case, her first impression had been correct. Darcy, however, had been a surprise. Not only did she not participate in the Benitez family trash-talking, she’d even kind of stood up for them. Well, for one of them.
And Charlene was willing to bet all the money she had that she knew exactly who that spirited girl was, and who those fine eyes belonged to.
She paused, going back-and-forth in her head. She’d never meddled in Elisa’s love life before, but that was mostly because she had no love life to speak of. Her first instinct was to let her know she had an admirer – but given that the admirer wasn’t her favorite person, was that really wise?
But they did have a lot in common.
Those two dating would be kind of amazing. Or it could lead to the end of all human civilization.
Win-win.
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Author Susan Mesler-Evans
About the Author Susan Mesler-Evans is a writer, college student, D&D enthusiast, theatre nerd, and horrific procrastinator. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Susan now lives in Florida, and can often be found reading, scrolling through Tumblr until 2 AM, overanalyzing her favorite fictional characters and relationships, bingewatching comedies on Netflix, thinking about writing, and even, on occasion, actually writing. Most Ardently is her first full-length novel. You can find her at susanmeslerevanswrites.com.
Welcome to the blog tour for SAMBA, the fourth book in the adult contemporary romantic suspense series, Sultry Nights, by Melanie Munton. See below for information on the book, buy inks, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Samba (n): danced to a quick, fast-paced beat, with rapid steps and a rocking, sexy swaying motion; typically has a dramatic climax.
Whether Sophie Fuentes wants to admit it or not, her life has irrevocably changed ever since undercover DEA agent Max Romano blew into it. And now that she knows the truth about who he really is, everything has changed all over again. Nothing is as she thought it was. There is no one left she can trust. All she knows for sure is that she wants nothing at all to do with Max and his lies.
Max knows he screwed up majorly with Sophie. But he’s not about to let her shut him out, not when her very life is in danger. She can yell at him, she can hate him, but she can’t deny the way her body responds to him. It might be wrong, but he’s going to use the passion that burns so brightly between them to his advantage. He’ll push her to the brink of her desire until she has no choice but to forgive him.
Their fire burns hotter than ever.
The stakes have never been higher.
The danger has never been deadlier.
But what scares Max the most is that he has no idea what’s coming for them next.
**This is a SHORT story series. Each volume is a short story serial and is an average of 30,000 words. This is NOT a full-length novel series.**
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Excerpt #3 Max
I put my bag of groceries on the kitchen counter and start grabbing all the pots and pans I’ll need. Twenty minutes later, I’m alternating chicken, sausage, prosciutto, and shrimp to sauté in a pan while cutting up tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and garlic cloves. The scents of dinner fill the house, reminding me of childhood nights listening to my parents cook together in the kitchen while dancing along to their favorite Old World tunes.
“What are you doing?”
I turn around to find Sophie standing in the middle of the kitchen in a white tank top and striped lounge pants with wet hair. I love seeing her fresh-faced and comfortable like this, when she’s not trying to grab another man’s attention by dressing like a vixen in heels. Ironically, I’m finding it harder to look away from her now than ever before. I’d like to think I’m the only man who has ever seen her like this and who also knows the pleasures of her body.
“Cooking dinner,” I answer, turning back to the stove.
“Why?”
I cringe. My mother would be so disappointed to hear that the woman I’m in love with is shocked I’m cooking dinner for her and her family.
“Because I want to and because you all need to eat.”
“I-I was going to do it,” she blusters, sounding almost offended. “I can take care of us.”
Ah, there it is. The woman is so bull-headed and prideful and independent. She doesn’t like the implication that she isn’t capable of taking care of her family. God, I love her.
I look over my shoulder, softening my voice. “No one is saying you can’t. I know you enjoy cooking, but I wanted to give you a break. And maybe I wanted to show off my cooking skills a little.”
She bites her lip, her gaze darting to the stovetop. “What are you cooking?”
“Paella. My mother will roll over in her grave if I don’t impress people with her recipe.”
I focus on bringing the onion and bell peppers to a simmer while she processes.
After several silent moments, she asks, “Is there anything I can help with?”
It’s a damn good thing my back is to her because my smile is both smug and victorious. “You can open the bottle of wine on the counter.”
I hear drawers open, followed by a pop as she uses the corkscrew. Then a glass full of white wine is held out in front of me. Our eye contact is intense as I take it from her. “Thank you.”
She nods and takes a sip from her glass. “I tried to make paella once.”
“And?”
She winces. “It basically turned into gumbo.”
I chuckle. “It takes some time to perfect. You want me to show you?”
She’s clearly hesitant but gives in. “Okay.”
Over the next forty-five minutes, I explain in detail each step to creating an authentic Spanish paella dish. She’s attentive and eager to copy what I do or try by herself. I’m working so hard to keep my dick under control, but she’s not making it easy at all. Especially when she sidles up next to me, grazing her breasts against my arm. Or when she insists on taking over and steps in front of me at the stove, placing her ass right up against my crotch. Or when a bit of olive oil pops in the pan and she jolts back to avoid getting burned.
The fight against an erection is lost after that.
She freezes when she feels the full impact of my hardness. My muscles lock up—I don’t even breathe—as I wait to see what she’s going to do. I was hoping we’d made some progress, even microscopic, after our angry fucking in a filthy alley last night. I feel her begin to melt against me, her ass cushioning my bulge the more she relaxes.
“Smells good in here,” her mother announces from behind us.
Sophie shoots forward, but not before—did she just wiggle her ass against me? I spot the coy smile she tries to hide from me and feel my chest swell about fifty sizes.
It’s working.
She’s coming back to me. Slowly and—I adjust myself as discreetly as I can, preparing for the blue balls—painfully coming back, but at least it’s happening.
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Author Melanie Munton
About the Author Traveler. Reader. Beach-goer. St. Louis Cardinals fan. Pasta-obsessed. North Carolina resident. Sarcastic. Bit of a nerd.
Author of the Cruz Brothers, Possession and Politics, and Timid Souls series, Melanie loves all things romance, comedies and suspense in particular because it’s boring to only stick to one sub-genre! From light-hearted comedies to sexy thrillers, she likes to mix it up, but loves her some strong alpha males and sassy heroines.
Go visit Melanie’s website and sign up for her newsletter to stay updated on release dates, teasers, and other details for all of her projects!
Welcome to the book blitz for AMBER SKY, a stand-alone adult contemporary romance/thriller by New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis From New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo comes a new stand-alone novel Amber Sky, the haunting, atmospheric love story of Walker Ainsley and Cassidy O’Connor.
A devastating car crash leaves Cassidy O’Connor stranded in rural Pennsylvania. Her only company is Walker Ainsley, the ruggedly handsome man who saved her from the wreckage and took her into his home. But when her ride back to town arrives after the crash, Cassidy can’t bring herself to leave Walker behind. She is determined to convince him to go back to town with her, until she begins to wonder if she actually survived the crash that brought them together.
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Excerpt #2 Hanging on the wall above the table is Shadow’s rendition of Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
He’s a man of God, I tell myself. He’s not going to hurt me.
The sound of his footsteps approaching echoes in my ears. I close my eyes and imagine the painting, both Shadow’s version and my memory of the original. I remember the original. Didn’t I travel somewhere to see it? Who was I with?
“Are you okay?”
My memory of the painting evaporates as I open my eyes. “What’s your real name?” I ask, relieved to see he’s not carrying a gun or any other weapon.
He looks taken aback by this question. And he very clearly chooses to ignore it for a moment as he places some gauze, iodine, and duct tape on the table. Taking a seat in the chair next to me, he nods toward my foot.
“Do you mind?” he asks softly. “It will be easier if you rest your foot on my knee?”
I hesitate for a brief moment, then I slowly raise my foot high enough for him to grasp it firmly. He doesn’t seem to mind getting his hands or jeans bloody. I wince as he places my heel on his knee.
“Sorry,” he says, lifting my foot. “I forgot it’s on the back of your heel.”
He rests the ball of my foot on his knee and begins using the gauze and iodine to clean the dirt-encrusted wound.
“You didn’t answer my question,” I remind him.
He doesn’t look up as he reaches for more squares of gauze. “Name’s Walker.”
“Walker?” I say it aloud, and the sound of the name on my lips makes my chest ache.
“What’s your name?” he asks, glancing at me as I clutch my chest. “I know it ain’t Shine.”
“Cassidy,” I reply, squinting my eyes at a hazy memory. A piece of paper. A legal document.
“That’s a beautiful name,” he says, and the memory slips away, just out of my grasp.
Then, as suddenly as it left, it’s back. I’m signing the document. It’s a legal document. I’m signing it, and I’m laughing.
“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” Walker says, refocusing my attention on the present moment.
“Did you just call me beautiful?”
A tiny smile plays on his lips. “Yes, ma’am. Is that okay by you?”
I can’t help but smile as I realize how crazy I was to think this sweet, innocent man meant to harm me. “It’s okay with me,” I reply.
I’ll still have to keep my guard up, but he’s done nothing other than show me the kindness and purity of his heart. I think Walker would sooner cut off his own hand than hurt me. And I don’t know why I’m so sure of this. But I feel it as surely as I know I’ve seen the original painting of The Last Supper.
“You’re going to use that duct tape on my foot?” I ask playfully, trying not to laugh as I suddenly feel ticklish from the sensation of his calloused fingers on my skin.
He places the soiled gauze pads on the table and stares at the roll of tape. “That’s probably not the way you do things in the city, huh?”
“I didn’t mean to say you’re doing anything wrong,” I clarify, feeling guilty for making him feel like I was criticizing him. “That wasn’t meant as a criticism. It was… Actually, I was trying… I was trying to flirt with you. And now I feel like a total idiot.”
“Flirt?” he says, looking genuinely perplexed. “What’s that?”
I grin as I’m once again surprised by his innocence. “Oh, boy, am I going to have fun teaching you. Not that I’m any good at it. Clearly. But—” I stop myself and take a breath before I start rambling nervously. “Flirting is something you do,” I begin, my eyes scanning his face, studying his grease-smudged, sharp cheekbones and those sparkling blue eyes, “with someone you find interesting…or attractive.”
His dark eyebrows scrunch together as he considers this new information. “Do I have this right? You find me attractive?”
My face feels as if it’s about to burst into flames. “Yes, I find you…ridiculously attractive.”
He still looks confused, but a smile begins to form in the center of that manly beard.
“Well, then, maybe you oughta teach me how to flirt,” he says, glancing in the direction of my eyes, but only for a brief second.
I recollect the moment he called me beautiful a couple minutes ago, replaying the memory over and over again because I know he doesn’t have the courage to repeat it. I hope my brain isn’t so messed up that I’ll forget his words by tomorrow.
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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.
