Welcome to the book blitz for DANGEROUS, the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, Wicked Hearts, by Sara Cates. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
DANGEROUS (Wicked Hearts Series #2) by Sara Cate
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: DANGEROUS Author: Wicked Hearts Series #2 Release Date: February 25, 2020 Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT
Synopsis Welcome to Wicked Beach…
Murph They call me dangerous. Which is fine by me. It keeps everyone out.
Then some new girl walks into my shop and turns everything upside down. It started out physical until she becomes the one person standing between me and the future of my business.
Now this mysterious new girl has me right where she wants me—physically, mentally…and emotionally.
Savannah I’ve been burned before. Now I look out for myself.
The last thing I expect is to inherit a tattoo shop run by the world’s scariest—and sexiest—business owner. If I were smart, I would cut him out and use the money to start a new life for myself—one free from the demons in my past. But Murph’s hard eyes and gentle touch do something to me. It’s like he can see something no one else can, and no matter how hard I try, he won’t let me walk away.
If I want to save myself, I have to ruin him. And to ruin him feels far more dangerous than what I’m running from.
Dangerous is the second swoon-worthy installment in the Wicked Hearts series. These stories can be read as standalones or together. Warning: this fast-paced romance might leave you breathless and a touch corrupted.
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Excerpt #2 “So what’s your story, huh?” He stalks in, grabbing an apple from the bowl on the counter. Leaning against the granite, his thick forearms folded in front of him, he takes a bite and glares at me with a harsh grin.
I don’t answer him.
“I’m being serious.”
“Oh really?” I answer, coyly. “I had you pegged for Mr. Comedy.”
“I know nothing about your past, where you came from, what brought you to Wickett. You might as well be my foster sister.” He takes a bite of his apple, and something intense floods through my bloodstream at the way he bites and grins as if he were thinking of me between his fingers.
“Ugh, please don’t say that. We are not even close to being related.”
“You have a story, and I want to hear it.”
For a minute, I consider telling him something real—but then I remember his threat to me just an hour ago, and I want him to know nothing about me. Especially since our relationship sits in this gray area.
“I moved into town, started looking for a job, and found Hazel. What else is there to know?”
“What are you running from?”
My eyes shoot up to his face, fixing on those bright green irises that seem to be pulling me in. Is my story so written on my face that he can tell I’m running from something…or someone?
“I’m not running from anything,” I answer, tossing the kitchen towel against the counter.
“You show up at my shop, throw yourself at me like you haven’t been touched in years. Clearly you have a secret, something you’re hiding. And I’ll figure it out.”
He stands from his position bent over the counter and tosses the half-eaten apple into the garbage. Then he marches toward me, keeping his gaze on my face, the intensity making me shudder. Without stopping, he presses his body against mine, pinning me to the counter.
Part of me wants to push him away, and another part wants to grab his face and wrap my legs around his waist, losing all abandon in this intensity.
He leans down, bringing his face closer to mine. I ready myself for a kiss, leaning my head back and giving it a slight tilt.
His lips whisper delicately close to mine. “All I can think about is look on your face while you were trembling on my lap.”
My breath hitches in my throat. I can smell the sweetness of the apple on his breath, and I inhale it, desperate to consume him in any way that I can.
My body completely betrays me as I wait for him to kiss me, and it’s like I’ve forgotten why I should not put my trust in this new stranger who suddenly ambushed my new life.
Suddenly I hear the sound of water behind me, and I turn my gaze to see him running his hands in the water, one arm on each side of me so that he’s practically hugging me. His stare doesn’t waver for a second.
All too soon, he pulls away and flicks his wet hands toward me. The cold water against my face feels like ice, doing nothing to cool the red hot anger.
“I’ll figure you out eventually,” he calls, and then he’s gone.
About the Author Sara Cate writes contemporary romance about bikers, bad boys, hunks, and softies–all rolled into one. She has a soft spot for redemption stories and forbidden romance.
AuthorSara Whitney is revealing the cover to TEMPTING TALK, the third book in her adult contemporary romantic comedy series, Tempt Me, releasing March 18, 2020. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
TEMPTING TALK (Tempt Me Series #3) by Sara Whitney
Synopsis Deejay Mabel Bowen rocks the morning airwaves, but once she signs off, she’s happy going home alone; a long-ago humiliation taught her that women in the public eye should be cautious about dating. Then she meets the Clark Kent-ish accountant overseeing the sale of her radio station and starts wondering if she should break her own “girl, don’t date him” rules.
Since he was teenager, Jake Carey has worked to lift his family out of poverty, and he’s now on the verge of a promotion that’ll secure their financial future. Why, then, is he so quick to set aside his spreadsheets whenever the gorgeous morning show host is around? After years of using work as an excuse to avoid searching for emotional connections, he’s now jumping at every chance to spend time with Mabel and her maple syrup voice.
Despite their initial reservations, Mabel and Jake move from conversations over coffee to flirty office lunches to a night out that obliterates all their previously drawn lines. Then a professional betrayal sends Mabel fleeing back to the safety of her single-girl rules. But Jake isn’t ready to give up on this once-in-a-lifetime love and sets out to balance their work/life books. Can he convince Mabel to turn up the volume on their future, or will she decide that the numbers don’t add up?
Excerpt Two more minutes. Two more minutes and she’d be headed out the door.
Mabel gathered the stack of ad copy she’d marked up and headed toward the main office, hoping to drop off the paperwork while everybody was gone for lunch. Then it was home to shower and hope for a smoother day tomorrow.
When she stepped into the room, however, she was dismayed to discover it wasn’t empty; Jake’s handsome face was furrowed in concentration as he stared at his laptop and rhythmically drummed a pen against the desktop. For one cowardly moment she considered backing out so he wouldn’t spot her, but she must’ve made a noise because his eyes flicked up from the screen and immediately back down. Then his pen-tapping slowed, and he dragged his eyes back up to her face.
“Well, hello.” His voice was warm with amusement, and the corners of his eyes crinkled.
“Hi.” She pushed confidence she didn’t feel into her voice. Despite radio being, well, radio, she normally put effort into her appearance at work. But that morning, she’d woken in a panic to find that her phone was dead and she had twenty minutes before she was due on air. While her ego could normally absorb a day of roaming the WNCB halls greasy and unshowered, that was before the hottest guy she’d ever met had started balancing the books down the hall from her, all tall and good-smelling. She might not allow herself to date him, but that didn’t mean she’d lost her vanity.
When his lips twitched, she groaned. “I know, I know. I’m a walking dumpster fire.”
“Did I say anything?” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, one corner of his mouth tilting up as he took in her limp ponytail, her makeup-free face, and worst of all, her sleeping ensemble.
“You didn’t have to.” She huffed her way across the room and dropped the stack of papers onto the corner of the desk, cursing herself for not shoving the damn things under the door and running. “I overslept. This is me in my natural state.”
She’d burst into the studio with seconds to spare in the shirt she’d slept in, a tiny pair of lime-green running shorts, and battered floral gardening clogs. At least she’d managed to scrounge a clean-ish sports bra from a gym bag in her car to wiggle into at a stoplight.
“A Minnesotan, huh?”
She plucked at the threadbare Mankato East T-shirt, which featured a cartoonish drawing of her high school’s cougar mascot.
“Oh, you betcha.” She hadn’t felt self-conscious all morning, but Jake’s amused scrutiny made her want to squirm. Then again, was she really going to let a lack of mascara hold her back? She was tougher than that.
“What, does this not do it for you?” She leaped to her feet, putting her hands on her hips and spinning to give him the full 360-degree view of an outfit that she wouldn’t even wear to the gym on a day when the air conditioning was broken and she was guaranteed not to run into anybody she knew. When she rotated back to face him, his face with alive with interest, his expression the warmest she’d seen since she walked in. And that’s when she became aware of just how short these shorts really were, and how clearly she could see the outline of her hot pink sports bra through the worn cotton of her shirt.
His eyes were slow to lift from her legs, and when they did, she held his gaze with a challenging stare, silently begging him to explain why he made her want to break her own “no dating at work” rules.
About the Author Sara Whitney writes sassy, sexy contemporary romance novels packed with wit, heat, and heart. A 2019 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award finalist, Sara worked as a newspaper reporter and film critic before she earned her Ph.D. and landed in academia. She’s a good pinball player, a so-so karaoke singer, and an expert TV opinion-haver.
In a funny twist of fate, Sara’s married to a divorce attorney, and she likes to think that her happily-ever-afters help keep their household in balance. She and her husband live in the Midwest surrounded by books, cats, and half-empty coffee cups. Keep up with Sara by subscribing to her mailing list here.
Welcome to the book blitz/special promo for THE CURSED CROWN,the first book in the epic fantasy series, The Darker Woods, by USA Today bestselling author May Sage and Alexi Blake, releasing December 1, 2020. See below for information on the book, preorder links, the exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR. For a limited time, you can preorder the eBook for just $0.99!
THE CURSED CROWN (The Darker Woods Series #1) by May Sage and Alexi Blake
About the Book – Preorder Now for Just $0.99!
Title: THE CURSED CROWN Series: The Darker Woods Series #1 Author: May Sage and Alexi Blake Publisher: Twisted Mirth Press Release Date: December 1, 2020 Genre: Epic Fantasy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo
Synopsis My lips hitch up an inch as the hulking, slender man bends down to whisper in my ear. “A divided kingdom without a leader is weak. You will fall. You will fail. You will all die without my kindness, little girl.” He expects me to falter, shiver, and drop my gaze to the ground like the flock of gentry buzzing around him. My eyes widen in feigned dismay. “Kindness? Why did no one think to tell me you had any?” I have to allow him that one concession: Rydekar is fun to tease. He doesn’t even smile. I don’t think anyone has taunted him. “I have none. You will beg nonetheless.” I just may, in his dreams. And in my nightmares.
No one was ever born less suited to ruling than Rissa, the thorn of the seelie realm—a half-fae so wild she’s spent the better part of a hundred years in the woods.
For all her flaws, she’s the last of the high court bloodline, and the southern king seems to think that’s reason enough to slap a crown on her feathered head. He needs her to unify the seelie forces. She needs him to forget about that nonsense.
In an effort to aid her people without condemning herself to a lifetime of misery, she sets off on a journey to find the one person with a stronger claim to the throne than hers: the cursed prince. Sealed in the mountains of the Wilderness, under many spells, the heir of the first seelie queen is the only royal strong enough to protect the fae lands from their immortal invaders.
Surviving the untamed tribes and awakening a thousand-year-old prince seem a lot easier than ruling an entire kingdom where everyone hates her very nature.
And her choices won’t come without consequences.
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Excerpt The first time the high king sent hunters after me, I terrified them, drowning them in the depths of their worst nightmare. I can get rather bored in the forest, and their fear entertained me for a day or two.
The second time, I was less kind. Instead of a handful of men, he sent two dozen. Half returned home, none of them whole.
I am no simple beast foreign kings can summon at their leisure. I am no weakling to bow to the will of another court.
I am a nightmare.
Half a nightmare, if one wishes to be technical about it. No one does, however. The folk like to conveniently forget that I am part gentry.
Half a nightmare. Half a child of the Court of Sunlight. Entirely wild.
I didn’t expect a third assault. I should have. I may have met Rydekar Bane only once, but it’s enough to understand what kind of king ascended to the throne of Tenebris.
A single rider enters my woods this time. Just one man on a pale horse. Yet I bristle. The stems growing inside my veins, sprouting out of my pores, crawl along my arm, protectively wrapping me under their thorns. I feel the feathers on my shoulders flutter.
One rider on a pale horse, yet I am afraid.
It isn’t in my nature to fear anything. My instincts aren’t prepared for it. Am I to flee like prey? Am I to remain to await my fate? Prepare to fight?
I’m so lost I end up doing nothing at all. I’m still perched atop the sturdiest branch of the ash tree I’ve claimed as my home when he appears, standing alone.
Rydekar.
Somehow, I never expected that he’d come in person. Not here.
The first time we met, it was in the dazzling light of the Crystal Keep, right at the core of Court of Sunlight. I was but a child, but already, I knew a predator when I saw one. I knew a fellow monster, too.
A hundred years have passed, and nothing has changed at all. He wears layers of black, fashioned in a parody of a court outfit. He cannot fool me. His clothes are light and easy to move in, yet reinforced with spells and iron casts. This is a set of armor if I’ve ever seen one.
His hair falls in waves, coating him in a golden halo. Of the number of weapons in his arsenal, his beauty is perhaps the most insidious. From the way he smiles at me as he saunters, there’s no doubt that he knows how to make use of it.
“I see you’re tired of sending underlings for me to play with,” I say lightly, eyes closed.
Rydekar chuckles. “They tell me you’re a tricky beast to hunt, precious. I thought I’d give it a try. I rather like the chase.”
I don’t doubt it. “What do you want, Bane?”
I will not call him king, highness, or anything of the sort. His dominion ends at the border of my woods.
Rydekar is lord in the south, on unseelie territory. The Darker Woods are on seelie land, and answer to no one.
No one except me.
“What does any fae want?”
“A beating heart for dinner? Endless, boundless entertainment? No, I know.” I glance down at him. “Better clothes. Well, I don’t share my tailor. Find your own.”
His laugh is music, another trap meant to endear him to me.
“Power, Rissa. I want more power.”
I roll my eyes. “And you’ve come here to seek it?” I gesture around me, to the peaceful clearing.
“Come down, precious.” His voice is sickly sweet, wrapping around me like a cloak.
He aims to seduce me, and if I were any weaker, he might manage, too.
Weaker, or stupider.
“I’m quite content up here, thank you, Bane.”
He sighs with a feigned sadness that makes me smile. “I would prefer not to be forced to make you obey me, Rissa, precious.”
I laughs so hard I nearly fall off the branch. “Make me?”
No one has ever made me do anything, not as a child, and certainly not now. Some tried. Pixie nurses, imp maids and an endless stream of tutors hired to bleed the wilderness out of me.
That I now live alone in the woods shows just how proficient they were in their endeavor.
“Make you,” he repeats, ever so softly. “I would prefer for us to have a partnership, if we could. But I’ll get what I’m here for either way.”
“Will you, now?” I practically purr.
He’s so very delightful. I haven’t had this much fun in an age.
I do leap down from the tree, if only because I want him to regret asking for it.
He saw me as a child in the Court of Sunlight, back when I hid the nightmare within me. There was only a hint of me showing through, back then.
Now, I’m another creature.
In the light of the moon, my complexion is sky blue, like that of a drowned corpse. The feathers grow right out of my shoulders, like the twisted twigs on my arms and legs.
Back then, I wore long sleeves, hiding what I am as best I could. I’m dressed in a midnight spider silk so fine he might even see through it in this light.
Rydekar’s violet eyes take me in, from my dirty, bare feet to my eyes, stopping on every feather, every thorn.
Then he smiles, takes one step forward, and snatches my hand before I can recoil. “There you are, precious.”
I’m so stunned I let go of my power, and feel the nightmare drain out of my skin. My hand is as warm as his, and has returned to the shade it dons when I’m not defending myself. It’s just like his. The twigs and flowers have retreated back inside my veins, and my feathers still.
In this moment, I hate him. He’s taken my shield without any effort.
“What do you want?” I repeat. This time, it sounds like a threat.
Rydekar is done smiling. He’s dropped the pretense, his eyes flashing with a raw need. I am getting a glimpse of the monster beneath his mask. “You,” he tells me. “Where you belong.”
I snatch my hand back.
He dares? He dares!
I’m about to lash out, pushing every drop of magic in my blood to maim him.
He concludes his insult. “On the throne of Denarhelm.”
“You’re a spineless, worthless waste of space.”
He shrugs. “I’ve heard worse.”
“Get out of my woods. I’ll gladly flay you alive if you stay.” And I mean every word, though killing him here would start a war.
“Unlikely, but I’d enjoy your attempt.”
Attempt? I could—and would—end him with little effort. I imagine freezing him in place and extracting every drop of pain and agony from his mind.
“Alfheimr is raising an army, Rissa. Now that the strongest among us have left, we’re vulnerable. Hundreds of thousands of men are arming themselves, and they’ll march on your kingdom first. It’s easy pickings. I could claim it tomorrow if I so wished.”
“There is no throne of Denarhelm,” I reply, gritting my teeth.
The seelie kingdom has long been divided into the thirteen minor courts. The last high queen ruling over them all left the throne vacant for good reasons. While I do have her blood in my veins, even suggesting that I could claim it is preposterous—and cruel.
The Court of Sunlight didn’t even want me to take my father’s place upon his passing. I hadn’t harbored any desire to rule, but the rejection had cut deep.
The thirteen courts would never bow to me.
I could make them, if I so wish. But I don’t.
My lips hitch up an inch at the thought of forcing the thirteen courts to their knees.
I’m so lost in my fantasy, I don’t see the hulking, slender man bending down to me until he whispers in my ear. “A divided kingdom without a leader is weak. You will fall. You will fail. You will all die without my kindness, little girl.”
He expects me to falter, shiver, and drop my gaze to the ground, like the flock of gentry buzzing around him.
My eyes widen in feigned dismay. “Kindness? Why did no one think to tell me you had any?”
I have to allow him this one concession: Rydekar is fun to tease.
He doesn’t even smile. I don’t think anyone has taunted him. “I have none. You will beg nonetheless.”
I just may, in his dreams. And in my nightmares.
“Get out of here,” I repeat.
This time, to my surprise, he complies, walking back to his silver-white warhorse. “I’ve said my piece. When the time is right, send word. I’ll arrange for your coronation.”
I’m confused and out of sorts. He’s leaving, after all this?
I don’t understand him. What would he have to gain if I do as he wishes? Wanting a stronger enemy in the north doesn’t make sense.
He looks back at me, and smiles one last time. “You were right, you know. I’ll steal your tailor.”
That’s a promise and a threat.
I don’t doubt he knows I make my own clothes. There’s no one else around, and nothing much else to do with my time.
Without another word, the infuriating high king of the unseelie is gone.
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Author May Sage
About the Author May Sage is a USA Today bestselling romance writer dabbling in different genres, although the readers who follow every series know they’re all related.
When she isn’t writing, she spends her time with her German Shepherd, her two Savannahs, and her black rescue cat, in England. She loves reading, ballet, running, and cake. Mostly, cake.
Follow her on Facebook or join her newsletter for the latest update.
About the Author After publishing for several years under another, not-so-secret name, she decided to start an adventure with this a fantasy romance pen!
Welcome to the book blitz for WHERE WE BELONG, a stand-alone adult contemporary, by Shann McPherson. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis An emotional, compelling page-turner from your next romance obsession, Shann McPherson, about the power of friendship and finding love where you least expect it.
When Alice ‘Murph’ Murphy’s beloved mother died, she promised to keep the family bakery in Graceville, Georgia afloat—even if it meant letting her high-school sweetheart, Nash Harris, go. For years, Murph has been biding her time, waiting for Nash to come back for her.
So when he strolls into Piece O’ Cake, Murph’s heart skips a beat—until he hands her an invitation to his wedding… There are painful secrets in both their pasts that only the two of them share, and Murph can’t bear the thought of Nash belonging to someone else.
There’s only one thing Murph can think of to do: fake a relationship with local bar owner and old friend Harley Shaw to remind Nash of what he’s losing, and win him back for good.
Nash is Murph’s best friend, a vivid reminder of her childhood and all the things she’s lost—but the more time Murph and Harley spend together, the more the lines between real and pretend begin to blur. Can Murph choose between the one who got away and the one who never left—and heal her aching heart?
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Excerpt #2: And, that’s when I spot him, behind the bar, serving a line of customers waiting at the counter. For a moment, I just stand there, on the spot, watching him. The way he moves so effortlessly, reaching for glasses up above, and bottles behind him, pouring shots like some professional mixologist as he laughs casually with his customers like they’re his very best friends. I clamp my bottom lip between my teeth as I continue staring at him from across the bar.
He looks good tonight. His wayward curls are contained by a backwards End Zone cap, his strong jaw shadowed with a smattering of stubble. His dimples pull into his cheeks as he laughs at something someone says to him, adding a hint of boyish charm to his already charming exterior. His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat with every word he says, and the tattoos inked into the smooth skin over his forearms seem to dance with every movement of his strong hands and long fingers. I’m not normally attracted to tattoos, but the longer I find myself unable to look away from him, the more they taunt me, hypnotizing me. I have to force myself to snap my gaze away, my eyes widening at my own thoughts.
Oh no. Please no. This isn’t right. It can’t be. Despite the dread sitting at the bottom of my belly, I convince myself to continue ahead and, by the time I come to stop at the counter, I find Harley right there, smiling down at me with a grin that only causes his green eyes to sparkle deviously like he knows a secret, and that’s literally the last thing I need to see right now. I shake my head in an attempt to push him and his beautiful eyes to the very back of my priorities.
“You told Emma?” I hiss over the counter, placing the empty pitcher on the bar.
“Yeah.” He nods, looking at me with a crease of confusion pulling between his brows. “Isn’t that the point of this whole thing? To…tell people?” He shrugs a shoulder.
“Yeah, I guess.” I sigh, not realizing until this very moment just how soft and full his lips seem to be up close. Again, I shake my head at my own thoughts. “But Emma? She’s your…your smash buddy. You said so yourself.”
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Author Shann McPherson
About the Author With big dreams of being a published author since she was an eleven-year-old girl writing Beverly Hills 90210 fan fiction before fan fiction was even a thing, Shann McPherson has been writing angsty, contemporary romances for most of her thirty-something years.
Living in sunny Queensland, Australia, when she’s not writing Shann enjoys making memories with her husband and cheeky toddler son, drinking wine, and singing completely off-key to One Direction’s entire discography.
Today is release day for LOVE TO HATE HER, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Wild Minds, by USA Today bestselling author, J. Saman. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR, and details on her giveaway. For a limited time, you can pick up the eBook for just $0.99.
LOVE TO HATE HER (Wild Minds Series #1) by J. Saman
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: LOVE TO HATE HER Series: Wild Minds #1 Author: J. Saman Release Date: February 27, 2020
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT
Synopsis A rare moment of weakness. A burning desire impossible to deny. Forbidden words I should never have spoken.
Seven years ago, I confessed my darkest secret to my brother’s girlfriend. When she broke up with him and walked out of our lives, she took my secret with her.
But, with my band set to go on tour around the world, I have a problem. I need a nanny for my autistic daughter. And unfortunately, Viola Starr, my brother’s ex, is the perfect fit. Now, there is no escaping her. Or our past. Especially when my brother seems determined to win her back.
Five months and she’ll be out of my life again. Five months of ignoring lingering, heated glances. The fire she draws out of me. The way she loves my daughter.
Five months… And my world is about to come crashing down around me.
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Excerpt Can I ask you something else?
Shoot.
Did the crowd swarming the hotel and bus bother you?
Is he kidding me? Of course, it bothered me.
Women–and I’m talking hundreds of them–mobbed the front and back entrance of the hotel, clamoring not just for their favorite band, but for the elusive Jasper Diamond himself.
They were crazed. They overran the bus. It was like those videos you see of when The Beatles first came to America. Girls were screaming and crying and thrusting not only band t-shirts out, but their tits too.
It was so insane that eventually the guys did step off the bus just so Adalyn and I could safely get into the hotel without being mobbed.
I knew they were famous. We wouldn’t be here if they weren’t. But I hadn’t witnessed much of it until now. I’ve mostly been hidden away from it, off with Adalyn doing our own thing. This was eye-opening in the worst and best possible way.
Why do you ask?
You made a face, and it was the first time on the tour it’s happened like that. Where fans swarmed us like that, I mean.
Are you referring to your harem of obsessed women? Why on earth would that bother me?
The message bubble appears almost instantly, and I roll to my side, my phone clutched in both hands, an unstoppable smile still clinging dumbly to my face.
I like this way too much to stop.
Even stupid banter and easy back and forth is better than evil eyes and long, lingering stares that make me simultaneously want to throw up and crawl out of my skin.
And because it’s late, and I’m so f-ing tired, and he texted first, and I feel like being snarky, and it’s taking him forever to reply, and I obviously need a million excuses, I write, In fact, why aren’t you out with any of them? I’m sure they’d love another chance at The Jasper Diamond. Sexy man and supreme rock god.
The dots dance before they disappear only to start again and disappear once more before they do their thing one final time and then his words appear on my screen. Not interested in any of them. And I’d prefer it if you’d call me sexy god and supreme rock man. Has a more realistic touch to it, don’t you think?
I snort out a laugh, rolling my eyes.
Seems a bit arrogant and inaccurate to me. I’m not sure I’d call you sexy god. Sexy man was already pushing it, but maybe you should run that one by some of those girls who were screaming for you earlier. They might have a different opinion than mine.
Don’t want their opinion. Yours is the only one I want, and the only one that matters.
I stare at his words for longer than I should, doing everything I can not to read into them. Rolling onto my stomach, I prop myself up with my elbows, clutching my phone just a little too tightly. I don’t know what to say to that. What to write back.
He is a sexy god. Insanely so. Everything about him sets my blood on fire.
Those girls will be devastated to hear that.
He replies instantly, and that flutter in my belly spreads, shooting sparks across my skin. If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you were jealous.
Maddeningly.
Why would I be?
You have no reason to be. They’re just girls.
And I’m just the nanny.
You’re not just the nanny. You’re my nanny, Viola.
About the Author J. Saman loves all types of novels, but finds herself always going back to writing/reading romances. She’s addicted to Diet Coke and sour candy, and swears way too much. She’s an admitted lover of picking at old wounds, second chance romances, love triangles and the perfect amount of angst . She writes smart, strong women and sexy alpha (slightly nerdy) men who have a softer side.
To receive updates, please subscribe to her mailing list. You’ll get any blog updates as well as info on any promotions and giveaways!
Acorn Publishing and author Kat Clark are revealing the cover to THE VOICE OF REASON, a standalone young adult/new adult romance/women’s fiction, releasing the summer of 2020. See below for the cover, information on the book, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE VOICE OF REASON by Kat Clark
About the Book Title: THE VOICE OF REASON Author: Kat Clark Publisher: Acorn Publishing Release Date: Summer 2020 Genre: Young Adult/New Adult Romance/Women’s Fiction Links:Goodreads
Synopsis There’s nothing like young love. But from the beginning, Amy’s wealthy, opinionated parents disapprove of Josh Everett. Josh is a high school drop-out working for his father’s modest construction company, when Amy becomes pregnant during her senior year of high school. Her parents begrudgingly throw a lavish wedding for her and Josh to avoid the scandal of an unwed and pregnant teenage daughter. Freed from her parents’ expectations, Amy begins to thrive as a wife and mother.
But Josh and Amy’s simple love story endures an unwanted plot twist when Josh is struck by mental illness and begins suffering from auditory and visual hallucinations. Confused and scared, Amy does her best to hold her little family together. When his symptoms escalate and Josh lands in a locked hospital ward, Amy’s parents see an opportunity to sabotage the relationship. Unless Amy divorces Josh and returns home to them, they will move to take custody of the couple’s young son.
An embittered legal battle ensues, and Josh and Amy are thrown from hospital to court room. Time is running out as Josh grapples with what’s real and the couple searches for an accurate diagnosis. In order to save their family, they must face the biggest obstacle in their relationship and fight together against everything – and everyone – determined to tear them apart.
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Author Kat Clark
About the Author Kat Clark is an award-winning writer with a degree in psychology and a passion for storytelling. She found writing on a frigid winter night while holed up with a crying baby, a traveling husband, and a precocious three-year old.
Kat has been a stay-at-home mom to her two sons for eleven years. She also homeschools and advocates tirelessly for awareness of and accommodations for special needs. Her free time is spent volunteering with various church ministries including working with children with a variety of needs. Her personal experience with mental illness and her previous work with the chronically mentally ill population sparked her determination to remove the stigma from mental illness.
Kat is a contributing author for The Mighty website. She also shares a You Tube channel (Sonny Mom INC.) with her son and a blog with her sister-in-law at www.killingjunecleaver.blogspot.com. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two children, two large, obnoxious dogs, and two cats who hate each other.
Welcome to the blog tour for UNFORGIVEN, the second book in the adult contemporary cowboy romance series, Loveless, Texas, byNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jay Crownover. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
UNFORGIVEN (Loveless, Texas Series #2) by Jay Crownover
Synopsis From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a tough Texas Ranger and his first love–a woman in danger who insists she doesn’t need his protection.
Hill Gamble is a model lawman: cool and collected, with a confident swagger to boot. Too bad all that Texas charm hasn’t gotten him anywhere in his personal life, especially since the only girl he ever loved has always been off-limits. But then Hill is assigned to investigate her father’s mysterious death, and he’s forced back to the town–and the woman–he left behind.
When Hill left Loveless, he broke Kody Lawton’s already battered heart. And now that he’s working on her father’s case, avoiding him is impossible. She can handle Hill and her unwanted feelings–until he puts his life on the line to protect her. Suddenly, Kody realizes that Hill could be taken away from her…for good.
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Excerpt #2 Hill put his cowboy hat back on his head and stifled a yawn behind his hand. “We can save all the updates for later. Y’all go ahead and finish laying Conrad to rest. I just wanted to stop by and pay my respects.”
Case reached out to clap Hill on the shoulder at the exact same time I reached out and grabbed a handful of his shirt. My body was moving faster than my brain, and my emotions were all over the place, making it impossible to keep up.
“Can you come out to the farmhouse with us?” I wasn’t exactly sure why I needed him to come, but I suddenly knew I did.
My oldest brother gave me a questioning look, and I quickly dropped my hand. I cleared my throat and reached up to tuck some of my hair behind my ear.
“I mean, if you don’t have important investigative stuff to do. You’re practically family. I think you have as much reason as the rest of us to be there.” I felt like I might bolt out the door and not look back if he didn’t agree to come. I wasn’t supposed to rely on him anymore. He’d proved that was a bad idea in the past, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. As great as my brothers were, they didn’t make me feel like everything would eventually be okay again the way Hill did. Regardless of the past, Hill was the one I always believed would be able to fix whatever was broken. It was a lot to put on his shoulders, and totally unfair. No one could live up to those expectations, not even Hill, which was why his fall from the pedestal I’d had him on back in the day had been so heartbreaking.
Slowly Hill nodded, all while covering up another yawn. I felt terrible. The guy needed to sleep, not to hang around as my underappreciated security blanket. But putting Conrad into the ground and saying goodbye to my complicated past forever seemed much more manageable when I knew Hill was going to be there while I did it.
We all followed the hearse out of town in a long procession of pickup trucks. Once again my lime-green Jeep Wrangler stuck out like a sore thumb and defied convention. My father had hated the brightly colored vehicle, often referring to it as a death trap. His disdain made me love the thing even more.
The finality of things eventually hit me as I watched my brothers, my nephew, and Hill each take a corner of the casket and start to move my dad to his final resting place. Case had picked a spot under an old cottonwood tree at the back of the property. It was far enough away from the house that a person would have to make a special trip out to pay their respects. It would keep whoever ended up living in the farmhouse from having my father’s ghost lingering right over their shoulder.
It was a somber, serious walk to the location. I think all of us realized we no longer had to live in fear of Conrad or be oppressed by the secrets of our childhood. Our father’s transgressions were no longer our cross to bear, and maybe now we could finally grieve not only for him, but also for our mother.
When she passed away, Conrad did his best to eradicate every trace of her from our lives. She was never spoken of, never cried over, never outwardly missed. She was snatched away and became a hazy memory before any of us could do anything about it. So while we were coming to peace with Dad being gone, we also now had the space to mourn the loss of the woman who had done her best to counterbalance all his hate.
I didn’t realize I was crying until Aspen wrapped an arm around my waist and discreetly handed me a tissue. She also handed me a white rose and muttered, “Take your time.”
I didn’t want to get any closer to the grave. I didn’t want to admit I was sad and maybe a little lost. I wanted to pretend none of this was happening…the same way I had when Aaron died.
Thinking about my mom, then Aaron, as well as my father suddenly made the tight grip I had on my composure shatter. It felt like so much had been taken away from me, and it was hard to breathe through the agony of that loss.
My shoulders shook as silent sobs racked my body. Aspen tried to pull me closer, but I pulled away, covering my face as I struggled to rein my emotions in. Both the tissue and the rose hit the ground at my feet as the flood of tears blurred everything into a hazy kaleidoscope. The sobs were no longer silent as I gasped for air and wailed at the unfairness of it all. Sure my dad hadn’t been great, but he had been mine. Sure my mom had been sick and suffering, but she’d also been mine. And Aaron, God, I’d never wanted to let him go. He was the one person I’d honestly believed would never leave me, and he was gone as well.
Strong arms wrapped around me, and my forehead hit the center of a strong, broad chest. I knew immediately the man holding me wasn’t Case or Crew, but the man who had also lost Aaron. I liked to delude myself into thinking Hill and I had nothing in common, but the truth was, our grief was exactly the same. He was the only person who really knew what it was like to live with that gaping hole inside your heart.
I fisted handfuls of his shirt and cried until I was hoarse and could barely stand. I felt his hand cup the back of my head, but he didn’t say anything. He simply stood there, holding me, shielding me as my feelings were finally allowed to run free. I had no idea how long we stood like that, but my knees felt weak and my throat was completely raw by the time the tears dried up.
Wordlessly, I looked over at the now-covered grave and silently picked up the abandoned rose. I tossed it on top of the freshly dug dirt and rubbed my burning eyes with the palms of my hands. I wanted to apologize, to make up some excuse, but as always, Hill seemed to know I was at my breaking point. He didn’t question me, didn’t push.
Instead, he inclined his scruffy chin in the direction of the old farmhouse and softly stated, “You need a glass of water and a few minutes to sit down. Let’s head back to the house.”
All I could do was nod weakly and walk next to him. I stumbled slightly and didn’t protest when his arm shot out and wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me tightly to his side. I felt like a deflated balloon. I was always so full of hot air and bluster, but it took next to nothing to break that thin shell and show just how fragile I was.
I walked next to Hill in silence, wondering how he always had a knack of showing up just when I needed him. I really wanted to rest my head on his shoulder but held back. It was scary, really, how attuned he was to me, when all I’d ever done was push him away and throw up roadblock after roadblock when he tried to mend the wounds of our shared past. The hurt I had was comfortable. I wasn’t ready to let go of it yet, no matter how tempting unloading all my baggage was.
“It never gets any easier.” His voice was low and I could feel the vibration where I was pressed against him.
“What doesn’t?”
“Saying goodbye.” He sighed, and his hold on me tightened a fraction. “I still think about Aaron every single day. I can still hear his laugh and see his smile.” Hill cleared his throat. “All these years later, whenever my phone rings, I still think it might be him. Time does help, but I don’t think it’s enough to heal some wounds. Some we just have to accept as being part of us forever.”
I sucked in a breath and felt tears threaten once again. I swear I never cried, but lately I was like a damn faucet. I rarely talked about Aaron, and never brought him up when Hill was around. I always thought it would be too painful, too much to bear, but his words brought a flood of happy memories to the surface. Things with Aaron had been so bad at the end, I’d repressed almost everything about my time with him, including the good moments. He did have the world’s best smile, and I hadn’t thought of it in so long, and wouldn’t have if Hill hadn’t brought it up.
I put a hand to my chest and felt my heart pounding. “I don’t know if time has helped me, but it is nice to think of happier times.”
Hill nodded and I shut my mouth, not wanting to go any further down memory lane. I remained silent as we continued to walk. I should’ve told him he could let me go, but I didn’t.
It took about twenty minutes to wander back to my childhood home. Hill yawned and apologized for basically sleepwalking no less than five times. I was going to bully him into bed and order him to sleep for at least twelve hours when he came to an abrupt halt as soon as we rounded the side of the run-down house.
Coming down the long dirt road leading into the property was a flashy car, one that had no reason to be pulling up to my father’s home.
“Isn’t that a Tesla?” The question tumbled out as I instinctively put my hand on the muscled expanse of Hill’s broad back. I felt him tense at the touch.
“It is. Does the driver look familiar?” He kept the question low as I squinted into the setting sun to see if I remembered seeing the person behind the wheel before.
I gasped and practically pushed Hill as I exclaimed, “She does!”
The woman driving the Tesla was the same well-dressed redhead who’d been at the viewing.
I still had no clue what her connection to my father was, but it looked like I was about to find out.
About the Author Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, the Point Series, the Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
Today is release day for UNFORGIVEN, the second book in the adult contemporary cowboy romance series, Loveless, Texas, byNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jay Crownover. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
UNFORGIVEN (Loveless, Texas Series #2) by Jay Crownover
Synopsis From the New York Times bestselling author of the Marked Men series comes an irresistible and suspenseful romance between a tough Texas Ranger and his first love–a woman in danger who insists she doesn’t need his protection.
Hill Gamble is a model lawman: cool and collected, with a confident swagger to boot. Too bad all that Texas charm hasn’t gotten him anywhere in his personal life, especially since the only girl he ever loved has always been off-limits. But then Hill is assigned to investigate her father’s mysterious death, and he’s forced back to the town–and the woman–he left behind.
When Hill left Loveless, he broke Kody Lawton’s already battered heart. And now that he’s working on her father’s case, avoiding him is impossible. She can handle Hill and her unwanted feelings–until he puts his life on the line to protect her. Suddenly, Kody realizes that Hill could be taken away from her…for good.
About the Author Jay Crownover is the international and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, the Point Series, the Breaking Point Series, and the Getaway Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
Today is release day for MORE JADE, the first book in the adult contemporary rock star romance series, Love You More, by Laura Pavlov. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
MORE JADE (Love You More Series #1) by Laura Pavlov
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: MORE JADE Series: Love Your More Series #1 Author: Laura Pavlov Release Date: February 25, 2020 Genre: Adult Contemporary Rock Star Romance Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT
Synopsis And then I met Cruz Winslow… He’s everything I’m not, and then some — a budding musician, he’s cocky and arrogant. He’s at ease in every situation and treats me like I’m the only person who exists.
Together we’re in sync with everything we do and I’m falling hard and fast for him.
He’s also a complicated boy and although I can’t begin to understand the life he’s lived, I want to be there for him in every way possible.
And that’s how it happened.
Slowly but surely, he’s captured my heart — One I wasn’t prepared to give away…
Jade Moore is not my type… She’s a good girl and has her entire life mapped out. I’ve never met anyone like her.
The girl is disciplined and determined. I’m not.
She follows the rules. I don’t.
She’s sunshine and girl next door. I’m sex and booze.
We don’t mix. But from the minute I lay my eyes on her, I’m done for. She’s everything I never knew I wanted… And now all I want is…more Jade.
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Excerpt I studied her pretty face. Her gaze locked with mine. “Why would I be afraid to want things?”
“Because when you admit what you want, you have something to lose. You can’t lose anything if you don’t care about it, right?”
I leaned forward and kissed her mouth. She was right, but I didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Instead I kissed her hard.
“You can’t kiss me every time I have a question that you don’t want to answer,” she said, against my mouth.
“It kind of works though, doesn’t it, ol’ breathless one.”
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Author Laura Pavlov
About the Author Laura Pavlov writes sweet and sexy contemporary romance that will make you both laugh and cry. She is happily married to her college sweetheart, mom to two awesome almost-grown kids, and dog-whisperer to a couple crazy yorkies. Laura resides in Las Vegas where she is living her own happily ever after.
Welcome to the blog tour for TEMPTING TASTE, the second book in the adult contemporary romantic comedy series, Tempt Me, by Sara Whitney. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
TEMPTING TASTE (Tempt Me Series #3) by Sara Whitney
Synopsis Can a grumpy baker and a brash marketing wiz blend perfectly? Or are they a recipe for disaster?
Take one taciturn baker After a chaotic childhood, all Erik Andersson wants is peace and stability. What a shock, then, to find himself quitting on the spot after a tornado of a woman storms his workplace and exposes the toxicity of his boss. Although Erik should be focused on locking down his next gig, he instead agrees to a wild business proposal from the beautiful chaos agent intent on upending his life.
Add one talkative redhead Josie Ryan spent years chasing her mother’s approval and now fills that void by wowing clients with her buzzy PR events. So when the brooding baker with the gorgeous cakes ends up jobless, Josie leaps at the chance to prove her worth by turning his talent into an empire–assuming she can work alongside a reserved hunk who charms her with every grumble.
Apply heat and watch them sizzle Keep it professional. That’s the first rule of a good partnership. Soon enough, though, Josie and Erik have dropped their defensive walls to explore the potential of their sweet-and-salty relationship. But as the business grows, their clashing definitions of success threaten their happy equilibrium. Can they resolve their differences to form the perfect fusion, or will the heat force one of them out of the kitchen?
Tempting Taste is book 2 in Tempt Me, Sara Whitney’s hot and humorous contemporary romance series. It’s a standalone novel with no cliffhangers, so grab your favorite pastry and get reading!
Advance Praise for Tempting Taste: “Sexy, sassy, and downright delicious! Whitney’s pint-sized heroine and strong-but-silent hero make for the perfect pairing. Tempting Taste brims with her trademark wit, humor and warmth.” Kate Bateman, bestselling author of This Earl of Mine
“A fun, sexy read full of humor and heart.” Sarah Hegger, author of Positively Pippa and Roughing
“Whitney serves up a delicious blend of sugar and spice that definitely hits the spot.” Goodreads reviewer
“I was hooked from chapter one. I love the fiery heroine and the silent broody hero.” Goodreads reviewer
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Excerpt #2 Josie picked up her camera, pointed it at the row of pristine wedding cakes, and started clicking. “It all smells so good. How do you keep from eating everything all the time?”
She was surprised when Erik actually answered, a curl of amusement in his voice.
“I taste everything. Why do you think I wanted to find a gym close to the bakery?” He looked down at his forearms—his strong, corded, deliciously muscled forearms, and she lifted the camera in a flash, firing off several quick shots. When he realized what she was doing, his expression shifted to pained.
“Oh, don’t do that!” she cried. “Those were getting good.”
“You don’t need any of me for the bakery website,” he muttered, swiping a hand across his mouth.
Good thing she’d just shot the last of the sample cakes because she was ready to launch into a new fight. “I really do. You’re…” She sighed. “You’re magnificent, frankly. You’re as delicious as the things you make. If we don’t put that on your website, we’re idiots.”
He started shaking his head as she spoke, his movements becoming more decisive with each word.
“Erik.” His name, spoken in her gentlest tone, stilled him. “Trust me.”
She held her breath, wondering if they’d be in for a repeat of last week’s disagreement in the kitchen, but he froze, a giant of a man enthralled by the force of her stare.
Then his shoulders shifted downward a fraction of an inch. “I hate this.”
“I know,” she crooned, working quickly to move things into place. His apartment was shabby as hell, but that just might work. She turned her lights to face the wall, then put her palm to his chest and walked him backward until he bumped against the crumbling plaster over the brick. For the first time in their acquaintance, he looked startled. At her touch? Was the press of her fingers causing the unflappable man to flap? Without stopping to think, she smoothed her hand along his collarbones, hoping the gesture would soothe him. But she’d miscalculated; his breath caught as her fingers traveled along those long dips and curves.
She took a step back, not wanting to fluster him more than she already had, and raised her camera. It clicked as she captured his unguarded expression. “Just pretend I’m not here.”
She watched through the viewfinder as he looked directly at her. “Teach me how to do that.” His voice darkened on the last word, and she almost dropped her camera. With the soft light falling on his face, his battered apartment wall served as a compelling backdrop for his square jaw, his sharp eyes, his impossible cheekbones.
“That night we met.”
She kept clicking, too absorbed in the planes of his face to respond, and her not speaking for a change seemed to encourage him to fill the empty space hanging between them.
“That night we met,” he repeated, “you were all I could see. Weeks later, you’re still the only thing I can see.”
About the Author Sara Whitney writes sassy, sexy contemporary romance novels packed with wit, heat, and heart. A 2019 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award finalist, Sara worked as a newspaper reporter and film critic before she earned her Ph.D. and landed in academia. She’s a good pinball player, a so-so karaoke singer, and an expert TV opinion-haver.
In a funny twist of fate, Sara’s married to a divorce attorney, and she likes to think that her happily-ever-afters help keep their household in balance. She and her husband live in the Midwest surrounded by books, cats, and half-empty coffee cups. Keep up with Sara by subscribing to her mailing list here.
Welcome to the blog tour for ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, Belles of St. Clair, by Amanda Ashby. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON (Belles of St. Clair Series #2) by Amanda Ashby
Synopsis Florist Laney George has a successful business, amazing friends and big, big dreams––oh, and a broken heart. But she’s working through that last one. Then the man she hoped to never see again shows up––and Laney’s carefully ordered plans are experiencing technical difficulties.
Celebrated Author Adam Fitzpatrick planned to be in St. Clair for no more than a day. Sign the books, and get out. Same story, different day. What he didn’t count on was Laney George, who happens to be the star of his somewhat fictional tale. She broke his heart years ago, and he’d gone a bit mad. Okay, maybe a lot mad––and he put everything in his book, never imagining it would be a world-wide best seller.
Now that he’s seen her again, he wants answers. But it isn’t just her that draws him in. It’s the town, something is happening and for the first time in years…he can write again. If only he could convince the woman who hates him most to start a new chapter in their story.
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Excerpt #2 “Sorry I couldn’t get here sooner,” Laney said, burying her face in the trunk to avoid Jessica’s scrutiny. “I came back to a mountain of work.” And men to avoid.
Not that she’d been successful.
If failure to avoid Adam Fitzpatrick had a poster girl, I’d be it.
Her plan of clearing the air, then never seeing him again, had back red in a spectacular fashion. Complete with a laser light show. If she’d told him he couldn’t stay, that would make her no better than the fictional Nina.
Which meant Adam was her new neighbor, and she kept seeing him everywhere she went. From helping Tilly to enthralling Kira Carmichael and her friends with his tales of being a writer to helping Sam fix a broken chair.
Every time–showing her that he wasn’t the selfish jerk she remembered.
It just wouldn’t do.
He didn’t even have the decency to wear a stained T-shirt or let his hair go greasy.
“How have you been?” Jessica asked as Laney passed her an armful of pale green olive leaves, the silvery underside soft like velvet.
“Busy, but I finally got an appointment with the bank. I’m going there next week.” She gathered up the rest of the flowers and shut the trunk with one hand. “You’re still going ahead with it?” Jessica’s face fell an inch. Her sister-in-law had been worried Laney would become too reclusive. Too alone.
“I swear I won’t turn into an eccentric flower woman who never leaves her property. I’ll still have the store and will be around all the time to see my adorable niece or nephew. Unless you’re worried that I’ll become cool Aunt Laney, who lets them stay up late and eat junk food.”
“I might need to get in on that action myself. Staying up past eight o’clock and eating something that doesn’t involve olives sounds good right now.”
“Still on the olive kick?”
“Up to one jar a day. This baby is going to come out green.” She sighed, though her face was still glowing and dewy. Maybe Laney should eat more olives, too? Then again, she suspected the glow came more from being happy about the tiny human percolating in her womb.
They walked across the parking lot. The Bluebell Inn had been in the George family for the last three generations, and when Simon had moved away and become a dentist, it had been Jessica who’d taken it over. The three-story building was painted in a soft gray. White pillars flanked the low steps leading up to the door. There were also ten smaller cottages fanned out around the main building.
Through the grand old entrance was a long reception desk. Ever since Laney had moved to St. Clair almost ten years ago, she’d been making sure the huge Chinese vases were over owing with local blooms. The hardy zinnias and delphiniums had held up well.
She came to a halt as her eyes slid farther up the wall.
An old seascape usually hung there, but it had inexplicably been replaced with a framed blue sweatshirt with the words Nina Took It splashed across the front.
And was it signed?
“Jess, honey. What’s that?” she croaked, putting the flowers down on the counter.
“Isn’t it great?” Jessica rubbed her swelling belly. “Paige gave it to me. The publisher sent a couple of extra ones, and she thought it might help with publicity for the inn. Adam signed it when he checked out. I’m going to start a wall of fame.”
Adam’s fame, Laney’s shame.
“I see.” Heat stung her cheeks at the unfairness of it all. For so long, St. Clair had been her safe space in the world. The town had embraced her, first as Simon’s bride and then as his widow. She had a place here. Well, she had, until Adam had literally turned up on her doorstep. His very presence was a threat.
She picked up the vase and carried it through to the kitchen. Far away from the stupid sweatshirt.
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Author Amanda Ashby
About the Author Amanda Ashby was born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand where she writes romance, young adult and middle grade books. She also owns far too many vintage tablecloths and likes to delight her family by constantly rearranging the furniture.
She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book was listed by the New York Public Library’s Stuff for the Teen Age. Because she’s mysterious she also writes middle grade books under the name, Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her Netflix schedule.
THE EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS (A Writer’s Guide to Psychological Trauma) by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
Synopsis Readers connect to characters with depth, ones who have experienced life’s ups and downs. To deliver key players that are both realistic and compelling, writers must know them intimately—not only who they are in the present story, but also what made them that way. Of all the formative experiences in a character’s past, none are more destructive than emotional wounds. The aftershocks of trauma can change who they are, alter what they believe, and sabotage their ability to achieve meaningful goals, all of which will affect the trajectory of your story.
Identifying the backstory wound is crucial to understanding how it will shape your character’s behavior, and The Emotional Wound Thesaurus can help. Inside, you’ll find:
• A database of traumatic situations common to the human experience
• An in-depth study on a wound’s impact, including the fears, lies, personality shifts, and dysfunctional behaviors that can arise from different painful events
• An extensive analysis of character arc and how the wound and any resulting unmet needs fit into it
• Techniques on how to show the past experience to readers in a way that is both engaging and revelatory while avoiding the pitfalls of info dumps and telling
• A showcase of popular characters and how their traumatic experiences reshaped them, leading to very specific story goals
• A Backstory Wound Profile tool that will enable you to document your characters’ negative past experiences and the aftereffects
Root your characters in reality by giving them an authentic wound that causes difficulties and prompts them to strive for inner growth to overcome it. With its easy-to-read format and over 100 entries packed with information, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus is a crash course in psychology for creating characters that feel incredibly real to readers.
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My Review This is my favorite book in the series so far. It’s filled with ideas for deep emotional wounds that shape characters in foundational ways. Each entry describes the various ways this wound can manifest itself, examples of responses to the wound and how it can impact every facet of life as well as ways in which a character can overcome the wound. The book is broken down by types of wounds from violence to emotional turmoil and being a victim versus a perpetrator or merely an observer. Far from a psychology book, rather it’s a guide for developing characters from a skeletal perspective, allowing the author to further research on their own to get deeper into their characters’ backstories.
This is a fabulous resource for planners and pantsers alike as we seek to define what makes our characters tick and ensure they respond to events in believable ways based on their defining wounds.
Bottom Line Another great resource from Ackerman and Puglisi to assist writers in creating deep characters.
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About the Book
Title:THE EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS: A Writer’s Guide to Psychological Trauma Authors: Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi Publisher: JADD Publishing Publication Date: October 25, 2017 Pages: 325 Category: Writing Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT |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..
Today is release day for TEMPTING TASTE, the second book in the adult contemporary romantic comedy series, Tempt Me, by Sara Whitney. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
TEMPTING TASTE (Tempt Me Series #3) by Sara Whitney
Synopsis Can a grumpy baker and a brash marketing wiz blend perfectly? Or are they a recipe for disaster?
Take one taciturn baker After a chaotic childhood, all Erik Andersson wants is peace and stability. What a shock, then, to find himself quitting on the spot after a tornado of a woman storms his workplace and exposes the toxicity of his boss. Although Erik should be focused on locking down his next gig, he instead agrees to a wild business proposal from the beautiful chaos agent intent on upending his life.
Add one talkative redhead Josie Ryan spent years chasing her mother’s approval and now fills that void by wowing clients with her buzzy PR events. So when the brooding baker with the gorgeous cakes ends up jobless, Josie leaps at the chance to prove her worth by turning his talent into an empire–assuming she can work alongside a reserved hunk who charms her with every grumble.
Apply heat and watch them sizzle Keep it professional. That’s the first rule of a good partnership. Soon enough, though, Josie and Erik have dropped their defensive walls to explore the potential of their sweet-and-salty relationship. But as the business grows, their clashing definitions of success threaten their happy equilibrium. Can they resolve their differences to form the perfect fusion, or will the heat force one of them out of the kitchen?
Tempting Taste is book 2 in Tempt Me, Sara Whitney’s hot and humorous contemporary romance series. It’s a standalone novel with no cliffhangers, so grab your favorite pastry and get reading!
Advance Praise for Tempting Taste: “Sexy, sassy, and downright delicious! Whitney’s pint-sized heroine and strong-but-silent hero make for the perfect pairing. Tempting Taste brims with her trademark wit, humor and warmth.” Kate Bateman, bestselling author of This Earl of Mine
“A fun, sexy read full of humor and heart.” Sarah Hegger, author of Positively Pippa and Roughing
“Whitney serves up a delicious blend of sugar and spice that definitely hits the spot.” Goodreads reviewer
“I was hooked from chapter one. I love the fiery heroine and the silent broody hero.” Goodreads reviewer
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Excerpt: “Anyway, about Erik. Did you see those arms? I bet he could bench-press me. Maybe you and me at the same time even.” Josie fanned herself with a lazy hand.
Richard’s teeth flashed, then vanished just as quickly. “Girl, he could hang one of us from each bicep and do curls. If that guy doesn’t have a thirst-trap Insta account with a billion workout ab shots, then I quit life.”
Her fingers involuntarily twitched toward her phone to search “hot Chicago baker,” but she forced them to behave. “Too bad he’s not my type.”
Richard paused with his coffee cup halfway to his lips. “Excuse me? I thought Nordic god-men were everyone’s type.”
She reached for another sugar packet. “Big and brooding’s nice to look at, but I’m more into confidence and a three-piece suit.” She dumped the crystals into her already-sweet coffee and stirred, looking up when Richard snorted.
“Oh yeah? And how did your last five dates with the suit-wearing ‘so-confident-it-borders-on-narcissism’ guys go?” Richard just laughed when Josie stirred her coffee harder. “I’m not saying date the hot baker, and anyway, you probably already scared him off. But I am saying maybe what you think is your type is really more your mom’s type, and you’re only dating them to win her approval.”
“Hey!” Her mug hit the table with a thunk, and Richard raised his hands in surrender.
“Ooooh, sorry. I retract. It’s your fault and your fault alone that you’re the most single girl in Chicago.”
“Damn righ— Hey!” she said again, but he just laughed evilly and went to fetch another refill for himself.
She twisted in her chair to call after him, “Everybody loves a man in a suit!” but her words were lost in the scream of the cappuccino machine. She exhaled a similar gust of hot, agitated air and turned back around in time to see the door swing open to admit the big blond baker. And her eyes hadn’t deceived her during their previous two meetings. Erik Andersson was, to dust off a word she hadn’t had much use for previously, positively strapping. All he needed was an ax and a blue ox.
Nope. Definitely not her type.
Bright blue eyes swept the crowded shop and landed on her. As before, not even the tiniest flicker in his somber expression showed that he recognized her as he weaved through the packed tables with surprising grace for such a big man. When he reached the table, he stood close enough that the scent of vanilla on his skin edged out the acrid burn of coffee beans.
“Hi.” She tipped her head up, up, up. “Do me a solid and sit down before I permanently damage my neck.”
He complied and laced his fingers together on the table in front of him. “Hello,” he said, studying her with a frown hovering at the edge of those unreadable blue eyes. Yet again, she was reminded of her uncharacteristically frazzled appearance. She couldn’t have paused to apply a little lip gloss at some point?
“Hey! You made it!” To cover her nerves, she held her hand up for a high five, and after a moment’s hesitation, Erik delivered the world’s most gentle smack to her palm. His dinner-plate hand dwarfed hers. Mmmm. Big hands, big—
“Sorry to interrupt.” Richard was back with his refill and a wry smile. Damn his timing.
About the Author Sara Whitney writes sassy, sexy contemporary romance novels packed with wit, heat, and heart. A 2019 Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award finalist, Sara worked as a newspaper reporter and film critic before she earned her Ph.D. and landed in academia. She’s a good pinball player, a so-so karaoke singer, and an expert TV opinion-haver.
In a funny twist of fate, Sara’s married to a divorce attorney, and she likes to think that her happily-ever-afters help keep their household in balance. She and her husband live in the Midwest surrounded by books, cats, and half-empty coffee cups. Keep up with Sara by subscribing to her mailing list here.
Author Melanie Munton is revealing the cover to SCARS & SINS, the second book in her adult contemporary romance series, Brooklyn Brothers, releasing March 31, 2020. See below for the cover, information on the book, preorder inks, an exclusive teaser, and details on her giveaway.
SCARS AND SINS (Brooklyn Brothers Series #2) by Melanie Munton
About the Book Title: SCARS & SINS Series: Brooklyn Brothers Series #2 Author: Melanie Munton Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Release Date: March 31, 2020 Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT
Synopsis We are the Rossetti’s. The exiled “sixth” family of the New York mafia. We’re the good guys. People don’t fear us…much. They respect us. The five of us? We’re the Brooklyn Brothers. And we protect what’s ours.
You know when you have a little sister and she has that one friend that always follows you around like a puppy? For me, that was Roxanna “Roxy” D’Angelo. That was years ago, back when our fathers didn’t hate each other. Then they became enemies and she went off to boarding school in Connecticut.
Now, she’s back…and looking nothing like the shy girl I remember.
Cavorting with anyone from the five families is strictly forbidden to someone like me. So, I can’t figure out why I keep finding myself in situations with Roxy that could bring the force of the entire mafia syndicate down on our heads. Even if those situations are the wildest, most intoxicating experiences of my life.
But with the Sicilians in town and out for blood, times have never been more dangerous. If they find out about our relationship, they won’t hesitate to remove both of us from the equation so they can restore order.
We’re not Romeo and Juliet. They both died. And I refuse to let anything happen to Roxy. I have to protect her. From my family. From hers.
I hope she won’t hate me for what I have to do.
Because it might just kill her before any bullet can.
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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!
Today is release day for ONCE IN A BLUE MOON, the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, Belles of St. Clair, by Amanda Ashby. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON (Belles of St. Clair Series #2) by Amanda Ashby
Synopsis Florist Laney George has a successful business, amazing friends and big, big dreams––oh, and a broken heart. But she’s working through that last one. Then the man she hoped to never see again shows up––and Laney’s carefully ordered plans are experiencing technical difficulties.
Celebrated Author Adam Fitzpatrick planned to be in St. Clair for no more than a day. Sign the books, and get out. Same story, different day. What he didn’t count on was Laney George, who happens to be the star of his somewhat fictional tale. She broke his heart years ago, and he’d gone a bit mad. Okay, maybe a lot mad––and he put everything in his book, never imagining it would be a world-wide best seller.
Now that he’s seen her again, he wants answers. But it isn’t just her that draws him in. It’s the town, something is happening and for the first time in years…he can write again. If only he could convince the woman who hates him most to start a new chapter in their story.
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Excerpt: Adam frowned as he studied the green wall in the airport restaurant. The strands of ivy had strange lines of yellow running through them, making them seem dead and lifeless. He reached out a hand and touched a leaf, then recoiled. Plastic. No wonder he didn’t like it. He pulled out some bills to pay for his coffee and got to his feet. A few weeks ago, he didn’t even know what a green wall was, yet now every time he saw one, all he could think of was Laney, her mouth pursed in concentration as she’d woven leaves and branches into the large metal frame.
And she could use a chainsaw.
So hot.
He walked through the busy terminal to catch his flight. He’d ended up having to stay two nights in New York and
spent most of the time wishing he was back in St. Clair. At least they’d raised double the money from last year’s event, and soon he’d be boarding his flight.
Eight hours later, Adam pulled his rental car up to the Belles and climbed out. The St. Clair breeze was fresh and warm and loosened the knots in his shoulders. All he wanted to do was wrap himself around Laney, drinking in her warmth. He’d called her from the airport, but it had gone straight to her messages. He paused and frowned.
They didn’t usually catch up until after six, but it had been two days. Besides, it must be six o’clock somewhere in the world.
The closed sign hung on the door, but she’d given him a key last week. He climbed the stairs two at a time and reached the top as she walked past holding a tray of hot drinks. Her hair was pulled back off her face and hung over one shoulder, leaving her neck exposed. Heat seared through him, and he went to cross the threshold.
Then she turned, and her entire body froze, knuckles turning white as she gripped the tray. Her mouth had taken on a horrified shape, as if he’d just walked across an entire garden bed of flowers. Adam stiffened in response. Not quite the homecoming he’d been expecting.
“Where did you say the other jar of olives was?” a voice called out from somewhere in the apartment. Jessica? Oh, hell. His rising heat faded as Laney’s eyes locked with his, her gaze pleading. Begging him to stay hidden.
“Don’t tell her. She’s already finished one jar today,” Brett’s voice chimed in from somewhere in the room.
Laney’s hands shook as the color drained from her face, and Adam numbly took a step back down the stairs. Some of the tension in her jaw lessened, and she gave him a pained smile before hurrying into the other room, where her guests were obviously waiting. A dismissal.
He rubbed his jaw as steel spikes jabbed at his gut. Had he been imagining that this thing they had was more than just a fling? Had he spent the last two days wanting to be with someone who didn’t want to be with him? A familiar wave of humiliation and anger swept through him. What I want doesn’t seem to matter.
The sound of their laughing voices chased him as he stalked back to his own apartment. Nothing like a reality check to remind him that, despite how well everything seemed to be going, Simon was still there.
I’m competing with a ghost.
That was why she hadn’t told anyone about their previous relationship. Why she didn’t want anyone to know about this one. His legs twitched, and he considered going for a jog, but to do so he’d have to leave the apartment and risk bumping into Laney and her in-laws again. Risk seeing the horror in her eyes at almost having her secret exposed.
Beer was the next best thing. He grabbed a can from the fridge.
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Author Amanda Ashby
About the Author Amanda Ashby was born in Australia but now lives in New Zealand where she writes romance, young adult and middle grade books. She also owns far too many vintage tablecloths and likes to delight her family by constantly rearranging the furniture.
She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her first young adult book was listed by the New York Public Library’s Stuff for the Teen Age. Because she’s mysterious she also writes middle grade books under the name, Catherine Holt and hopes that all this writing won’t interfere with her Netflix schedule.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Melissa Foster is revealing the cover to TEMPTED BY LOVE, the first book in her newest adult contemporary romance series, The Steeles at Silver Island, releasing September 9, 2020. See below for information on the book and series, preorder links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
TEMPTED BY LOVE (The Steeles at Silver Island Series #1) by Melissa Foster
Synopsis Enjoy heart-meltingly beautiful and toe-curlingly sexy romance in Tempted by Love, an emotionally riveting story about a man who has lost it all and carries a torturous secret, a divorced single mother who has everything to lose, and the little girl who helps them heal. Fall in love on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, midnight rendezvous, and the sexy, sharp-witted Steeles. They have a penchant for pranks, a passion for loyalty, and a trunk full of secrets.
In TEMPTED BY LOVE… Years ago, bestselling author Jack “Jock” Steele lost his girlfriend and baby in a horrific accident that drove a wedge between Jock and his family, keeping him from sharing a devastating secret. An aging philanthropist saved him from the brink of despair, and for a decade Jock cared for his ailing friend who became his family. Now his friend has passed away and left him a fortune—on the condition that he publishes another book. Jock is floundering, unsure how to rebuild the life he’d walked away from, much less find his muse, have another relationship with a woman, or even think about having a family of his own. But he can’t get his sweet, sexy new friend, single-mother Daphne Zablonski out of his head, and her adorable toddler must know something he doesn’t, because she wraps her tiny fingers around his heart and won’t let go.
Daphne has been through the wringer with her ex-husband and doesn’t believe true love is in the cards for her. Friends she can handle, but letting a man see her mom bod naked? Especially someone as strikingly handsome and unbelievably sexy as Jock? No, thank you. Besides, she has a toddler to chase after and enough fictional boyfriends to fill her lonely nights. If only her book boyfriends could make her body tingle the way one look from her mysterious neighbor does.
As Jock and Daphne’s friendship turns to something too tempting to deny, their lives take an unexpected turn. Can a man who has lost everything find redemption with a woman who has everything to lose? And then there’s that secret…
More Steeles at Silver Island are coming soon! Publication order subject to change. TEMPTED BY LOVE (Jock) MY TRUE LOVE (Jules) ALWAYS HER LOVE (Levi) ENTICING HER LOVE (Sierra) CAUGHT BY LOVE (Archer) WILD ISLAND LOVE (Leni)
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Author Melissa Foster
About the Author Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes sexy and heartwarming contemporary romance, new adult romance and women’s fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Readers adore Melissa’s fun, flirty, and sinfully sexy, award-winning big family romance collection, LOVE IN BLOOM featuring the Snow Sisters, Bradens, Remingtons, Ryders, Seaside Summer, Harborside Nights, and the Wild Boys After Dark. Melissa’s emotional journeys are lovingly erotic and always family oriented.
Melissa also writes sweet and clean romance under the pen name Addison Cole.
Melissa has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Her interests include her family, reading, writing, painting, friends, helping others see the positive side of life, and visiting Cape Cod.
Melissa is available to chat with book clubs and welcomes comments and emails from her readers. Visit Melissa on social media or her personal website.
Never miss a brand new release, special promotions or inside gossip again by simply signing up to receive your newsletter from Melissa.
Welcome to the blog tour for THE SWEET SPOT, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Love Is…, by Cassie Cross. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE SWEET SPOT (Love Is… Series #1) by Cassie Cross
About The Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: THE SWEET SPOT Series: Love Is… Series #1 Author: Cassie Cross Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Release Date: February 11, 2020 Links:Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT
Synopsis Lexie James spent years dreaming about opening her own bakery. She’s invested every penny she’s ever saved—and some other peoples’ pennies too—into making that dream come true. The Sweet Spot is thriving thanks to her dedication and penchant for perfection, but she’s lonely and Hunter, the gorgeous guy who owns the gym across the street, is a nice distraction.
Hunter Elliott is Lexie’s high school crush. The timing’s never been right for the two of them, but when he notices that all work and no play makes Lexie a stressed-out overworked mess, he stages an intervention. He’s determined to show her that she can be successful and have a life.
First, he needs to help her find that sweet spot between business and pleasure…
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Excerpt: My morning routine consists of preheating the ovens, ordering supplies, baking, brewing coffee, putting the day’s cupcakes and cookies on display, and having a mild freakout about my business crashing and burning at any moment and losing all the money I’ve ever saved and then some.
At 8 AM on the dot I take a cleaning cloth to the sign that’s hanging in the front window. It spells out the name of the bakery—The Sweet Spot—in neon pink letters, and has a cute winking cupcake on the end. Polishing it daily protects my investment, and it also offers the perfect position to ogle the guy who owns the gym across the street as he walks to work.
His name is Hunter Elliott. My raging crush on him dates all the way back to high school. He was captain of the baseball team and one of the most popular boys in school, so he’d always been on my radar. Things kicked into high gear at the beginning of our senior year. I’d stupidly added salt instead of sugar to the cupcakes I made for the prom bake sale. Word traveled fast, and I was left sitting alone at an empty table with my savory little failures. Before I could chuck them in the trash and go home and put myself into a sugar coma to forget my sorrows, Hunter bought them all.
He took a bite of one and managed to keep a straight face while he struggled to swallow it. After, he told me it was the best frosting he’d ever had.
The compliment buoyed my embattled spirit, and I looked at him with heart eyes for the rest of the year. We went to college in the same city and returned home around the same time. I toiled away on my sweet dreams while he opened up his first gym out in the Ivy Town suburbs. The one across the street is his second location, and he’s there pretty much every day.
We’ve always been friendly, and there’s an underlying flirtatiousness between us that never developed into anything more. Timing has always been an issue.
Hunter’s really filled out over the years. In high school, he was a handsome, lanky beanpole. Now he’s broad-chested with thighs like tree trunks and skin the color of my famous butterscotch frosting. The stubble along his jawline really brings out his chiseled features. His dark brown hair sets off his piercing blue eyes.
He’s beautiful and today he’s right on time, doing a better job at waking me up than a thousand cold showers ever could.
He’s wearing a black t-shirt that clings to his impressive torso and his hair is wet, like he just got out of the shower. My brain temporarily goes offline at the thought of him wet and naked.
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Author Cassie Cross
About the Author Cassie Cross is a Maryland native and a romantic at heart, who lives outside of Baltimore with her two dogs and a closet full of shoes. Cassie’s fondness for swoon-worthy men and strong women are the inspiration for most of her stories, and when she’s not busy writing a book, you’ll probably find her eating takeout and indulging in her love of 80’s sitcoms.
Welcome to the blog tour for HOUSE OF CARDS, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Tech Billionaires, by Ainsley St Claire. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
HOUSE OF CARDS (Tech Billionaires Series #1) by Ainsley St. Claire
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: HOUSE OF CARDS Series: Tech Billionaires Series #1 Author: Ainsley St Claire Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance Release Date: February 10, 2020 Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT
Synopsis She thinks she needs to put her family before herself. He’s determined to prove her wrong.
Maggie is the heiress to the Reinhardt Department Store fortune. Her father died and the board of the company expect Alex to run the company but they’ve never had a nonfamily member run the company. The board has a simple solution—she needs to put the family first and marry Alex. Forget the fact that she isn’t his type and she loves someone else. Jonathan Best has been in love with Maggie Reinhardt since high school. Everything he’s done has been for her including escaping from his family’s clutches and opening a 5-star hotel and casino on the Las Vegas strip. He can’t forget their last time together and how after so long it was so right. So, after picking up the pieces he formulates his plan to stop the wedding and that when things get really interesting.
House of Cards is a standalone romantic suspense novel with a happy ending. It’s the first in the Billionaire Tech Series featuring the team members from the Venture Capitalist and Clear Security series.
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Excerpt
Chapter 1 Jonathan
I’m nervous. As I move through my casino, I stop to breathe into my hand and take a quick smell.
It doesn’t smell like anything other than my clean hand. Does this really work to tell if your breath is bad? I don’t know. But I need to figure it out before Maggie gets here.
I’ve been in love with Maggie Reinhardt since we were teenagers, and she called out of the blue to tell me she’s flying in and wants to see me.
She was here a few months ago during the pre-opening for the Shangri-la, my casino resort on the Las Vegas strip, when her brother’s venture capital firm held a corporate meeting here, and he and his fiancée eloped. We reconnected, fell into bed, and it was amazing. It was everything I’ve ever dreamed of. We’ve traded emails and texts and phone calls since then, and I’ve been asking her to come back. But she’s busy with work, and then her dad passed away last month. I went home to Minneapolis for the funeral, but the family was surrounded, and I was buried in the Shangri-la’s official opening back here, so I didn’t stay long, and Maggie and I didn’t really connect.
Her father was an icon. He inherited a high-end department store called Reinhardt Hudson when Maggie and her brother were young, and over time he added what became the second-largest discount retailer, Bullseye, and a mid-level department store called Murphy’s to the company fold. He was a real pioneer in the retail world. But as I understand it, neither of his sons wants to take over as chairman of the board now that he’s gone.
One of those sons, Maggie’s brother Christopher, is my best friend. He’s held that title since we were in diapers. He told me a while back that when their father was gone, they’d find someone to run the day-to-day operations at the company, so he or Stevie would probably just chair the board in name only. Maggie manages the Reinhardt Foundation, but I’m hoping she won’t be tied to living in Minneapolis forever.
When she gets here, I’m going to make my move. I’m going to ask her to move to Vegas, and we’ll start making plans to get married. That’s all there is to it.
I’ve loved her for most of my life, and I created the Shangri-la for her.
This is a good plan, I tell myself as I move through the casino. I love the musical sound the slot machines make. I even have a section of my hotel with old-time slots that actually use coins. They say they aren’t as profitable as today’s machines, but everyone loves the musical beat of coins hitting the tray as the machine spits out winnings.
My hotel is not yet a year old, and already we’re working in the black. I love this town.
Anyway, I never take time off, but while Maggie is here, it will be essential. Shortly after I arrive at the staff meeting this morning, which is held over breakfast, I drop the bomb.
“Listen,” I tell them. “I’m thinking of taking a few days off this week.”
My team consists of my head of marketing, head of sales, the head of the casino, the head of guest relations, the head of guest rooms, the head of security, the head of housekeeping, and the head of maintenance. These people are essential to my operation and have been with me since I started with my concept. They all stop mid-bite and look at me. I’m expecting some push back.
“It’s your hotel,” says Gillian Reece, my head of guest relations and right-hand woman. “You don’t have to run anything by us.”
I nod, a bit surprised. “Good. I have a friend coming into town, and I want to spend some time with her.”
“Uh-oh…” my head of casino teases. “It’s a her? May your dry spell be broken.”
I smile. I’m not going to dignify that with a response.
Maggie and I haven’t said we’re exclusive, and when you own a large resort that’s the newest shiny object for tourists to visit, you don’t have a lot of time to date. If I have an occasion that requires someone on my arm, it’s only a friend.
Our staff discussion quickly dissolves into lots of ribbing and teasing. I don’t mind. I like that we’re close.
When our meeting breaks up, Gillian approaches me. “We’ll make sure her stay is perfect.”
I know what she’s after. She will spoil Maggie to death, but that’s my job. “I’m not telling you her name so you don’t pester her in any way.”
“Moi? Pester her?” Her smile stretches like the Hoover Dam. “I would never think of doing that.”
I shake my head to make sure she knows. “Really, it’s not a big deal. This is a friend I grew up with, and she’s my best friend’s baby sister. It’s been three years since I’ve had a day off. Just a couple days,” I stress. “I want to hang out with someone who remembers what I looked like as a pimple-faced, awkward teenager.”
She harrumphs. “Somehow I doubt you were ever an awkward teenager.”
I was, but I’m not going to debate that with her. To ensure the Shangri-la’s success, I expel a lot of energy and stress at the gym, so I’m in pretty decent shape.
As I head off down the hall, I begin to remember how perfect Maggie was beneath me, on top of me, and in front of me, and how delicious she tasted. No, I have every intention of enjoying every second and ordering room service for however long her stay might be.
I’m meeting her in less than an hour. She didn’t give me much notice, but I was able to sneak in a quick trip to my favorite esthetician for a facial, and I don’t want to be too vain, but I also did some primping with a fresh haircut and a manzilian wax. It hurt like a motherfucker, but it’s clean and tidy and makes me super sensitive. I’m ready for a lot of up-close-and-personal time. I want Maggie to know I’m going to spend the rest of my life making her happy.
I’m used to walking the property multiple times a day, so I decide to do a quick pass through as I return to my apartment to meet Maggie. I live onsite and made sure the home I set up faced the mountains—away from the strip—and my offices were in a tower across the property, so I’d have to wander through to get to work. I try not to be too predictable and walk through at the same time or take the same path, so I see everything going on at my resort.
As I stroll along today, the employees I encounter have looks of pure terror on their faces. If they had cartoon bubbles above their heads, they’d read, Don’t talk to me. I don’t know why they’re nervous. I never call anyone out specifically. I make a mental note to bring it up with my team and have them address it, if it’s worth it.
“Hello, Mr. Best.”
Ah! Here’s one willing to speak to me. I discreetly glance at her name tag. “Hello, Janice. How are the tables running?”
“Very well, sir. We’ve had a table of frat boys that’s run hot and cold all night. It may break up now that it’s daylight.”
I chuckle. “That’s very good news.” I staff beautiful cocktail waitresses, and my pit boss probably put one of our most stunning dealers—who happens to be married to him—on the table to keep the boys in place and spending money.
My casino manager approaches me. “Hey, boss.”
“Hi. Sounds like it was a good night last night?”
“Yes, it was. Spring break will do that.”
New York City tells the world it’s a town that never sleeps, but here in Vegas that’s not just a saying, it’s our reality. There’s something going on here twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. There really isn’t a slow period. During the summer, when Las Vegas is miserably hot, the conventions are buzzing. At Thanksgiving, the Canadians come down in full force because of the deals and because they’ve already celebrated Thanksgiving. And while it’s a little quieter, all the non-Christians come in full force over Christmas. Maybe it’s because I grew up in Minneapolis and hate the snow, but I love the desert. I love the heat. And I’m finding out I love the casino resort business.
I exit out the far side of the casino floor and head across the property to my apartment. I hardly slept last night. I worked late clearing as much off of my plate as I could so I could take a few days off, and then I was just too excited. Maggie and I have been flirting for months now, and I’ve spent my life getting ready for this moment.
When I reach my apartment, I settle in at my desk and watch her flight arrive from my computer. A little while later I can see her walk onto our property via the security camera feeds. My heart picks up, and my cock is immediately hard. Her blond hair flows with just the right amount of curl. She’s breathtaking. I watch men and women notice her, but she doesn’t see it. That’s one of her many amazing qualities.
At first glance, no one would know she’s an heiress to a major department store. I thumb the engagement ring I bought at Cartier months ago. I saw it and knew I wanted to buy it for her. I think she’ll like it. It’s not too ostentatious, but it’s a beautiful eight-karat center stone with the eternity band covered in half-karat diamonds, all set in platinum. I tuck it away in my safe and shut the computer off.
Moments later, there’s a knock at my apartment door. I open it, and her face lights up.
“Jonnie!” She’s the only person on this planet who can call me that. She steps in for a hug and holds on a few seconds.
I’m ready for this every day for the rest of my life. “Mag-pie. You look stunning.”
“I left the Twin Cities before dawn this morning. I’m tired, grumpy, and I’m sure my makeup is running.”
She looks perfect.
“You’re fabulous. Come in.” I usher her into my apartment, toward the view of the mountains and the golden hues of the desert.
I feel jittery. Maybe if I take her right to the bedroom and fuck her senseless, we can get it out of the way and then talk about our future.
“I was really excited to get your message,” I tell her.
She smiles, and I want to kiss her like crazy.
“It’s been hectic since Dad’s death. The reading of his will had some…surprises for all of us.” She looks away for a moment. “But Christopher and Stevie have been great,” she continues. “My mom, though… She is surprisingly upset.”
She sits on the couch, and I sit next to her. I reach for her hand, and the chemistry is electric. My cock is so hard right now, and I need to taste her. I lean in for a kiss, but she places her hands on my shoulders.
I can see the line she gets between her eyes when she’s worried about something.
“Your mom may be a little cold at times, but I’m sure she’s grieving in her own way.”
She looks at me with a tight smile.
“What is it?”
“Jonnie, I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone, but…”
My stomach drops.
“…Alex and I are getting married.”
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Author Ainsley St. Claire
About the Author AinsleyStClaire is a Romantic Suspense Author and Adventurer on a lifelong mission to craft sultry storylines and steamy love scenes that captivate her readers. To date, she is best known for her series Venture Capitalists.
An avid reader since the age of four, Ainsley’s love of books knew no genre. After reading, came her love of writing, fully immersing herself in the colorful, impassioned world of contemporary romance.
Ainsley’s passion immediately shifted to a vocation when during a night of terrible insomnia, her first book came to her. Ultimately, this is what inspired her to take that next big step. The moment she wrote her first story, the rest was history.
Currently, Ainsley is in the midst of writing a nine-book series called “Venture Capitalist.”
When she isn’t being a bookworm or typing away her next story on her computer, Ainsley enjoys spending quality family time with her loved ones. She is happily married to her amazing soulmate and is a proud mother of two rambunctious boys. She is also a scotch aficionada and lover of good food (especially melt-in-your-mouth, velvety chocolate). Outside of books, family, and food, Ainsley is a professional sports spectator and an equally as terrible golfer and tennis player..
Welcome to the book blitz for DINGO, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Devil’s Fury MC, by Harley Wylde. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Meiling – All I’ve ever known was pain. My life has been far from a fairytale. No parents. No friends. Just an endless nightmare that I can’t wake from. Until the day a man offered me his hand and promised to keep me safe. I’ve never trusted anyone before, but there’s something about him. Maybe it’s insane, but I know he won’t hurt me, and when he puts his arms around me, for the first time in my life I feel loved.
Dingo – I’ve always had a soft spot for women and kids in trouble. One look at Meiling, and I knew I had to protect her at any cost. The beautiful girl with the wounded soul. After all she’s suffered, all I want is to make her smile, make her feel secure, and give her a chance to find happiness. But first, I need to take out the men and women responsible for hurting her. It might get ugly, and messy, but they don’t call me Dingo for nothing. I’m a crazy bastard and I won’t stop until she’s safe. I just didn’t count on falling for her along the way.
Warning: Meiling’s past isn’t pretty. Dingo and Meiling’s story deals with issues of human trafficking, bureaucratic corruption, and vigilante justice. This book contains darker themes that may trigger some readers.
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Excerpt #2: I slipped Dingo’s shirt over my head, smoothing it as it fell to my knees. Even though I didn’t have on panties underneath, it was still the most covered I’d been for as long as I could remember. I didn’t see a hamper so I tossed the towels over the top of the shower so they would dry, then cautiously opened the bathroom door. I could hear the TV going and saw a pair of booted feet propped on the coffee table, even though I couldn’t see the rest of him. Scurrying into my room, I shut the door, then stared in amazement.
Sacks. Lots of sacks. They were just from one of those twenty-four-hour stores, but as I peeked into each one, I saw clothes, shoes, and other things that had to be for me. They were all in my size, and Dingo hadn’t mentioned his sister would be visiting. Since they were in the room he’d said I could use, it had to mean they were mine, right? Tears gathered in my eyes. I ripped into the package of panties and slipped on a pair, loving the way they actually covered my ass. The only two pair I owned were thongs and I hated them. The bras were a soft material that wasn’t the least bit transparent, and the clothes…
A sob built in my throat, but I tried so hard to hold it in. Jeans, modest-looking shirts, and shoes that were made for comfort and not to entice men. I lost the battle and tears streaked my cheeks as I cried so hard my throat and chest hurt. Booted steps came running toward the room, and Dingo must have slid to a stop just outside. He didn’t barge in, at least not right away. As my cries grew louder, he pushed the door open and rushed inside.
“Mei? Honey, what’s wrong?” He dropped to his knees next to me.
“I-I-I…” I couldn’t even tell him why I was crying. I just gestured to the bags, then threw my arms around him and held on.
Dingo held me, letting me soak his shirt with my tears, and he gently rubbed my back. Eventually, I got myself under control and took a few shuddering breaths. He rested his cheek on the top of my head, just holding me. Not once did his hands try to roam somewhere inappropriate. Beau was the last person to hold me like this, and I’d only been fourteen. I hadn’t realized until now just how much I missed it. My foster dad’s version of affection was vastly different.
“When’s the last time someone bought something for you?” he asked.
“My foster parents gave me only what they were required to purchase, and the clothes were never like this. No one’s ever been this nice to me.”
“They aren’t much, Mei, but I wanted to make sure you had enough clothes to get by for at least a few days. You’re welcome to use the washer and dryer off the kitchen whenever you need to, and we can always get a few more outfits.”
I fisted his shirt and lifted my head. The concern in his eyes, the gentle way he held me, it was all overwhelming. Men had taken what they wanted from me ever since I’d hit puberty. Not once had I ever kissed someone just because I wanted to, but right now, this very moment, I wanted to kiss Dingo. Before I could second-guess myself, I pressed my lips to his. He tensed and drew back, his gaze searching.
“Mei, you don’t have to do that.”
“I know,” I said. “I did it because I wanted to.”
There was a moment of hesitation in the way he held himself, the look in his eyes, and then he leaned toward me. This time he kissed me. Dingo threaded his fingers into my hair and held me as his mouth devoured mine. I melted against him, feeling desired for the first time in my life. Cherished. Men had wanted me before, but they’d wanted to take not give.
Dingo broke the kiss with a groan and pulled away.
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Author Harley Wylde
About the Author Harley is the international bestselling author of the Dixie Reapers and Devil’s Boneyard series. When Harley is writing, her motto is the hotter the better. Off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place.
HarleyWylde is the “wilder” side of award-winning science fiction/paranormal romance author Jessica Coulter Smith. For fans of Gay Erotic Fantasy Romance, Harley/Jessica also writes as Dulce Dennison. Check out Harley‘s other books, and read some random facts about the author, at harleywylde.com.
Follow Harley on Amazon to be notified of new releases, or sign up for her newsletter..
Synopsis A boy recently released from jail and the daughter of a prosecutor fall for each other against the odds in this YA novel.
Corey has just been released from jail, and all he wants is a new beginning. But when his former gang comes knocking, Corey agrees to vandalize the home of Kent Hopper, the prosecutor who put him away.
To erase the guilt she carries from getting away with a crime, Tessa spends most of her nights riding her motorcycle. When she catches Corey destroying her father’s car, she doesn’t see a criminal: She sees a way to finally right her own wrongs. So instead of turning Corey over to the police, she convinces her father to give Corey a second chance.
As Tessa and Corey spend more time with each other, it becomes difficult to ignore the pull between them. But they’re both keeping secrets, and when those secrets come to light, they’ll each have to face their demons in order to have a future together.
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My Review This story strongly reminds me of Katie McGarry’s books, so if you’re a fan of hers, this is right up your alley. Both main characters are troubled with secrets and dark pasts. Corey is a reluctant gang member, willing to do whatever it takes to keep his family safe, including doing a year in prison. Tessa is the daughter of the D.A. who put Corey in jail. So when the gang decides to take it out on the D.A.’s home and car, they drag Corey into the mayhem. Unable to deal with the guilt of what he did to the man who recommended the lightest sentence possible for his crimes, he goes to the man’s house and admits what he did, shielding the other members from blame to keep his family from the harm they would surely be subjected to if he ratted out the others. Tessa sees something in Corey and asks her dad to give him a second chance. This kicks off a tenuous friendship that evolves into so much more as Corey makes amends by repairing the damage his “friends” did to Tessa’s home. Tessa is hiding her own dark past that is only hinted at through much of the book. While she desperately wishes to confess whatever it is, she keeps finding reasons not to. But this ugly secret compels her to view Corey in a different light than most people do.
I love the characters and the romance. It’s angsty and emotionally deep. The only thing keeping me from giving this five stars is that it takes a long time to really get going. I was a good 30% into it before I was fully invested in the story and the characters. It was easier for me to engage with Corey early on, but I was slow to warm up to Tessa. She almost has too much hidden from the reader to empathize with her. But once I was able to start seeing her through Corey’s eyes, I eventually got on board with her as well.
Plot The primary plot is the relationship between the two main characters, but there are strong subplots involving Tessa’s secret and Corey’s future. Both of these influence their relationship, making them integral to the main plot. There is also minor subplots regarding Corey’s mom’s career, an ex-boyfriend of Tessa’s and Tessa’s dad’s health and her concerns about him.
The Characters I loved Corey instantly, but was slower to embrace Tessa. Both characters are incredibly complex and conflicted, making them intriguing. Tessa’s dad and Corey’s family are warm and provide a nice contrast to the two tortured protagonists. Told in dual first-person POV, we get deep inside both of their heads, allowing us to understand what makes them tick. Rounding out the cast is Tessa’s uncle and her cousin, who also happens to be her BFF, a vengeful ex-boyfriend, and Corey’s crew. The character development is one of the best parts of this book.
Top Five Things I Enjoyed About IF YOU ONLY KNEW 1. A sympathetic gang member. Corey isn’t really an anti-hero since his heart is always in the right place and he never devolves into something darker, but it was still good to see this side of gang activity, to see how good kids get drawn into that life.
2. Corey’s mom. She is so proud of her son despite his time in jail, and she never stops being his biggest fan.
3. Tessa’s dad. Much like Corey, Tessa’s dad grounds her in just the way she needs. Even though he’s a prosecutor, he still manages to see the best in people.
4. Redemption. Both characters have a redemption arc, and that’s one of my favorites.
5. Angsty romance. Another favorite of mine. These two have so much keeping them apart, that the intensity of their love is palpable.
Bottom Line A solid young adult contemporary romance with complex characters.
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author I’m a wife, mom, writer, reader. Lover of foods, beaches, the ocean, shoes, starry nights. Sometimes I pretend like I’m good at drawing..
