Welcome to the book blitz for GULF OF DECEPTION, the first book in the young adult mystery series, Gulf Shores Mysteries, by Kelly Ann Hopkins. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
GULF OF DECEPTION (Gulf Shores Mysteries #1) by Kelly Ann Hopkins
On the cusp of her high school graduation, Lily Harmony needs to figure out how to break it to her lawyer parents that she doesn’t want to follow in the family footsteps–especially with her band in high demand on the Fort Myers beach scene.
But when her father is killed inside his office and their mother accused of his murder, Lily and her estranged sister Annabelle are convinced the police have the wrong person. Clues are hard to come by until a mysterious man hands Lily a flash drive and warns her the information contained on it might get her killed. As Lily works to unravel what the files and pictures mean, a stunning discovery reveals the murderer might be closer than she thought.
With the help of her gamer BFF and maybe something more, Lily and her sister scour the Everglades for connections to her father’s killer. But what they find hidden in the canopy of cypress tress is more dangerous than they ever imagined—a long-lost secret worth millions—and worth killing for.
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Excerpt #1 Sunlight streamed through the windows, and pang thudded deep in my chest. Hard to believe I was leaving this stunning scene in a few short months for college. A thousand miles north in Boston, away from the sun, the sand, and the balmy breeze. At least the ocean was nearby—except it would be the lumbering, lead-colored, frigid Atlantic, and I’d be wearing an unflattering parka with boots up to my knees. Maybe when the snow melted in June, I could trick myself into believing I was standing on the Gulf.
All so I could one day add my name to the Harmony Law letterhead. Except that was the last thing I wanted.
My feet stopped short as a shock reverberated through the walls, like something heavy crashed down in another part of the building. But there were no other offices on the top floor. I pulled my headphones from my ears and turned off the music.
At the office door, I peered into the hall. A gust of humid air rushed down the narrow passage and ruffled my hair. Now where had the breeze come from?
Delicate music came from the speaker system—some unnamed melody that sounded familiar and should have vocals. Another blast of breeze hit me as if someone had forgotten to shut a window.
“Mom?” I called. The law office answered me with soft strains of piano wafting down the hall.
“Dad?” My father’s door stood ajar at the far end of the building. Next to it, my mother’s office door was shut. Maybe they were both in Dad’s office. His was the only one with a balcony. They could have gone outside and left the door open.
Another violent crash came from the direction of his office. A gunshot rang out. Then another. Followed by a blood-curdling scream.
Mom!
Dad!
Terrified, I crept down the hallway, my back pressed against the wall, my cellphone pulled from my pocket and clutched in my shaking hand. My heart pounded, making me faint. I blinked away the sensation. Sharp blasts of unintelligible conversation drew me toward the office as wind whipped down the corridor.
I hesitated at the door and gasped.
Mom knelt beside Dad, a gun in her hand. Blood colored the front of his polo shirt—a crimson stain spreading from his chest and down his left side on a backdrop of stormy blue fabric. Strangled sobs ripped from my lips. I rushed in, dropped to the floor beside my father, and took his limp hand.
Glass shards bit into my knees as a terrible gurgle erupted from his throat. Bloody froth colored his chin and lips. The room spun around me.
“Dad? Please, Dad. Can you hear me?” Spots popped in my brain, and another wave of vertigo hit as my abdomen heaved. I forgot how to inhale.
His bewildered eyes were wide, his mouth moving soundlessly, his fingers splayed against the floor. I couldn’t tear my gaze from his face as I laced his fingers in mine and squeezed. “Dad! What should I do?”
“William?” Mom whispered. She pressed a wad of orange fabric—the scarf she’d worn this morning—over the wound on his chest. Fresh terror gripped me as blood dripped down her cheek, and I couldn’t tell if it belonged to him or her.
Dad struggled to lift his other arm, but it fell back to the floor.
“He’s gone, William,” she said. “You’re going to be fine.”
Somehow, I unlocked my words. “Who’s gone?”
She ignored my question, or maybe she didn’t hear me. Tears and blood trickled off her chin, making pink spots on her white shirt. “Call for an ambulance. Oh God.” The gun slipped from her hand and landed on the carpet with a thud. “William.” Her voice broke on his name.
My heart tore from its moorings on a crash of agony. “Dad? Dad.” For a split second, his gaze fixed on mine, then he was gone as if a candle extinguished in a sudden, sharp wind.
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Author Kelly Ann Hopkins
About the Author Kelly Ann Hopkins is the author of Misled (coming 2021) and Buried Beneath (coming 2022). She spends her days as a high school librarian and creative writing teacher, where she challenges her students to read with abandon. When she’s not creating perilous adventures for her characters, she is dreaming of her next trip to the Florida Gulf Coast. Kelly lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two children, and too many books.
Synopsis SPF at the ready… someone’s about to get burned.
As a year-round resident of Cape May, New Jersey, Maisie Mundy has grown up loathing the “shoobies” that flood her charming seaside town each summer and treat it like their personal playground. And when it comes to shoobies, there’s none worse than Preston St. James, the arrogant heir to the St. James Development Company, the same company that’s trying to drive Maisie’s grandfather’s beach umbrella company out of town to greenlight their latest downtown project. Maisie is the only person aware of the dire financial situation her grandfather has found himself in, and she’s the only person who can save the shop, peddling rental umbrellas on the beach daily, doing whatever it takes to keep Mundy’s Sundries afloat. When Preston launches a beach delivery app to win a Shark Tank competition at his private school, he gives Maisie a whole new reason to hate him. Immediately, the two become engaged in a battle of rumor-spreading and sabotage that could sink them both.
But as Maisie’s best friend Summer points out, hating someone that much takes a lot of passion, and the more time Maisie spends duking it out with Preston, the more that passion starts looking like something else entirely; the more it starts looking like romance. The closer Maisie and Preston become, the more she trusts him with her heart… and her family’s secrets. When Mrs. St. James uses insider information to deliver the final blow to Mundy’s Sundries, Maisie’s convinced their romance was another one of Preston’s tactics, one meant to hurt her and her family at the same time, despite his denial of belying her trust. Was Maisie a fool for ever trusting a St. James, or will her lack of faith in Preston be the real reason she gets burned this summer?
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My Review It’s been far too long since I’ve read anything by Karole Cozzo, but her latest release, THROWING SHADE, does not disappoint. It’s a beach read for young adults and anyone young at heart. Between lighthearted moments are deeper themes about fighting for what you believe in, family bonds, overcoming deep-seated fears, love, and loyalty. And of course, lots of kissing. Her summer before her senior year of high school, Maisie Mundy, works at Mundy’s Sundries at the beach, a business selling sunscreen and renting beach chairs and umbrellas, started by her great grandparents and now run by her grandparents. The business is in trouble, but she’s determined to turn things around. At least until preppy Preston St. James arrives and decides that his summer econ project will involve a competing business to Mundy’s except using cool tech to order items right from the beach. Maisie hates everything about Preston, from the silver spoon he was born with to his attitude as a part-time resident who doesn’t appreciate the tiny seaside New Jersey shore town of Cape May for what it really is.
When Preston’s mom proposes a new shopping center at the heart of town where Mundy’s Sundries is located, Maisie is incensed. How dare these shoobies just show up and try to shove out long-term residents! She decides the best way to fight back is to show Preston all the hidden gems of Cape May that only the true locals know about. Maybe if he can see the charm of quintessential Cape May, he can convince his mom that some things don’t need to be modernized. That small businesses are better than huge chains. What she doesn’t count on is mutual attraction sparking that leads to so much kissing.
Plot The plot is two-fold. On one side is the romance between Maisie and Preston and on the other is the fate of Mundy’s Sundries. But Maisie’s relationship with Preston is so intertwined with the success or failure of her family’s business, that the conflict practically writes itself. Cozzo handles both sides of this plot deftly, so that we take neither Maisie’s side, nor Preston’s, generating the kind of angsty romance that kept me turning the pages. Excellent sub-plotting involves Maisie’s BFF, Summer, and her need to overcome a phobia in order to take on a rival.
Characters Characters are what Cozzo does best and these characters are no exception. All have rich backstories who shape them into fully three-dimensional beings that we root for from the opening pages. There’s plenty of humor, lots of warmth, and just the right amount of growth for a satisfying ending.
What I Loved About THROWING SHADE 1. Maisie. She’s so devoted to her grandparents who helped raise her, and to their business, it’s hard to find fault in almost anything she does to protect them, even when you know she’s in the wrong.
2. Preston. He’s more than just a privileged preppy boy, and seeing Maisie discover these deeper layers is delicious fun.
3. Summer. I absolutely adore Summer, the badass swimmer and devoted teacher of young Black kids so they feel as comfortable in the water as she does.
4. Grannies on Pot. One of the best scenes is when Maisie’s grandma takes too much medical marijuana.
5. Angsty Romance. There’s something so visceral about teen love and their inability to grasp that anyone might really love them for who they are that tugs at my heartstrings. Every.single.time.
Bottom Line A wonderful teen beach read full of humor, young love, and fighting for what matters most.
Disclaimer I was provided with a copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
About the Author Karole lives outside of Philadelphia, PA with her loving husband, exuberant little girl, and smiley little boy. She adores YA Romance, because it would be awesome if life in general had a requisite feel-good happy ending rule. Vices include obscene Haribo gummy consumption, addiction to Starbucks NF vanilla lattes, and tendency to hoard Bath and Body Works 3-wick candles.
Welcome to the blog tour for SAVAGE LOVE, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Love Like This, by New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
SAVAGE LOVE (Love Like This Series #1) by Cassia Leo
When I walked into the bar across from the hospital, all I wanted was a drink to help me forget the worst day of my life. What I got was sexy, mysterious Jake Maxwell and the most amazing one-night stand of my life.
Months later, he seeks me out with an unconventional offer: He’d like to take me and my dog for a walk.
My lazy dog could use the exercise, and I could use something to distract me from the pain of my sister’s death. Jake’s bad puns, gorgeous smile, and protective nature turn out to be the perfect medicine for my injured soul.
But just like the day we met, that one date turns into so much more. And as Jake and I grow closer, it becomes difficult to separate his pain from my own.
All I want is to share the burden of his secret. But some truths are too savage to be spoken.
Savage Love is a new steamy, emotional stand-alone romance from New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo. This book deals with sensitive subject matter. Due to graphic scenes and strong language, reader discretion is advised.
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Excerpt Colette
When we’ve finished lathering Gary, I let the water out of the tub and pass the handheld shower-head to Jake, so he can do the rinsing. Twice, Gary tries to shake the water off before Jake is done, soaking our shirts with soapy, gray bathwater. Eventually, I remember that this is supposed to be a lesson. So I show Jake how to stop him from shaking off the water by placing his hand on Gary’s head.
Afterward, I give Jake the large orange bath sheet I’ve designated for Gary, and he drapes it over him. He spends a few minutes towel-drying him, then he wraps the bath sheet around his damp body, lifts him out of the tub, and cradles my boy in his arms like a baby.
He nuzzles Gary’s wet nose, and my dog takes this as an invitation to settle his snout into the crook of Jake’s solid neck. “You were a very good boy,” Jake coos. “Yes, you were.”
I stare at him as my heart turns to mush. “Sorry about your shirt.”
He laughs as Gary licks his neck.
“I don’t mind,” he says, glancing at my chest. “But you might want to change yours.”
I look down and gasp. My nipples are showing through the light-pink top I’m wearing.
Jake follows me out of the bathroom with Gary still cradled in his arms. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”
I tug open the second drawer of my dresser and pull out a purple UW T-shirt. When I turn around, I find Jake and Gary lying on my bed, smiling at each other as he continues to towel-dry him. What the fuck is going on here?
“Am I getting swooped by a Golden Retriever?” I say as I unfold the T-shirt.
“Excuse me, but we’re trying to have a moment here,” Jake says, scratching Gary’s belly as Gary attempts to make himself comfortable on my pillow.
“Well, can you close your eyes for a moment, so I can change my shirt?”
He looks at me with obvious confusion. “Are you serious?”
I roll my eyes and briskly remove my top, revealing that I’m not wearing a bra.
“Happy now?” I say as I pull on the clean T-shirt.
He stops scratching Gary’s belly and reaches down to adjust the crotch of his jeans as his gaze zeroes in on my chest.
“I should get going.” He springs up from the bed, giving Gary a mild startle. “Sorry, buddy.”
“I thought this was nothing you hadn’t seen before?” I say, grinning at the effect my body has on him.
He shakes his head. “Yeah, but that’s like when an alcoholic tells you they’ll be fine having just one beer. Never believe that shit.”
I finish pulling my hair out of the back of my T-shirt. “So, you’re the alcoholic and I’m the beer in this analogy, right?”
Now that I’m fully clothed, he allows his gaze to wander the length of my body from my bare feet all the way upward until his eyes meet mine.
“I’d say you’re more of a bourbon straight up, but yes. You’re dangerous,” he says, maintaining a safe distance between us.
My brow furrows at the word dangerous. “Do you mean that in general? Or am I only dangerous to you? ’Cause, honestly, I think I’m pretty boring.”
He shakes his head as I make my way toward him. “Trust me, boring is not a word I’d use to describe you.”
I stop a few feet away from him to respect his personal space. “Speaking of drinking, are you thirsty? Can I interest you in a glass of the finest tap water in America?”
The change of subject seems to put him at ease.
“Actually, I’ve answered a lot of your questions today. But there’s one question you haven’t answered for me yet.”
“Shoot.”
He flashes me a charming smile, and it definitely looks like he’s been dying to get something off his chest. “I already answered this question for you, so it’s my turn to ask it… Have you thought of me since that night?”
I chuckle at the insinuation that I could somehow forget the best and worst day of my life. “You’re kidding, right?”
He looks pleased with my response. “Is that a yes?”
“Uh… that’s a big yes. I mean…” My voice trails off as memories of that day flash in my mind: his arms carrying me, his solid chest pressing me against the shower wall, the way he knew exactly how I wanted to be kissed, the way he effortlessly slipped into the role of friend-slash-lover-slash-caregiver, then just as easily slipped away into the night. “You’re not exactly easy to forget.”
His smile is tempered by this disclosure. “I do aim to please.”
The response feels hollow, almost as if he’s uncomfortable being thought of as unforgettable. Some people are naturally bad at accepting praise. Dahlia would say this kind of behavior is a trauma response.
Maybe it makes him uneasy to picture me thinking about him every day. Was he hoping I’d say he barely crossed my mind? Was he being hyperbolic last night when he claimed he thought of me every day?
Maybe I’m just overthinking this.
“Do you have to get going?” I ask as he takes his phone out of his pocket to glance at the screen.
“Yeah, I have a meeting in the morning with—well, it’s about tips.”
My eyebrows pinch together as I feel a little confused. “You’re having a meeting about bar tips?”
My question makes him laugh. “No, not bar tips. T-I-P-S is the acronym for the software project. I just call it tips. It’s easier.”
I cast a sideways glance in his direction. “Are you allowed to tell me what T-I-P-S stands for?”
“No, but don’t worry. It’s not very interesting. Unlike you.”
I smile at his uncanny ability to always bring the subject back to me.
“Okay,” I say, accepting his inability to discuss the project.
I try not to let my disappointment show, but the secretiveness surrounding his work feels like one more roadblock to getting to know Jake. And now that he’s leaving so soon after I basically flashed my breasts at him, I question whether I’ve misread him.
His expression becomes serious as he holds my gaze for a long moment.
“I’m not leaving because I want to,” he clarifies, and his tone is urgent with the need for me to believe him. “I’m leaving because I don’t want to mess this up again. Okay?”
My body tingles as I’m flooded with feel-good chemicals. “Okay.”
I remind myself of Dahlia’s warning to not get caught up questioning whether Jake likes me. So, instead, I take her advice and ask myself, do I like Jake?
Of course, I like him. And now that I think about it, it’s ridiculous to question if he feels the same. The question isn’t whether we like each other. The real question is, are we right for each other?
And there’s only one way to find out.
As I lead him to the door, the feel-good chemicals slowly dissipate as I worry this is the last time I’m going to see him. But as I place my hand on the door handle, I freeze when I feel his body pressed softly against my back.
“You smell really fucking good,” he murmurs as he gently turns me around so we’re facing each other.
I swallow hard as his gaze lands on my mouth. “So do you.”
The corner of his mouth curves upward.
“Is this okay?” he whispers, brushing the backs of his fingers over my cheek.
I nod. “Yes.”
His hand moves down slowly, grazing my jaw as he reaches around to clasp the back of my neck.
“And this?”
I nod again as his fingers slip under the hair at my nape, gently closing around it.
“How about this?” he says, leaning forward to lay a soft kiss on my cheek.
The sensation of his scruff and his lips against my skin sends a jolt of pleasure coursing through me. I nod slowly to let him know what he’s doing is very okay, and he responds by tightening his grip ever so slightly on my hair. The throbbing between my legs transforms into a painful ache as my need to kiss him becomes unbearable.
He softly brushes his lips down my cheek and places a tender kiss on the corner of my mouth.
“I’ve been dreaming of having you for months,” he murmurs as the enormous bulge in his jeans presses against my belly. “But this time, I’m going to be patient and take my time with you.”
I reach up to grab fistfuls of his T-shirt for support as my knees get weak.
“Being patient isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” I whisper as I struggle to catch my breath. “I mean, patience has gotten us Game of Thrones fans nowhere.”
He takes my face in his hands and looks me in the eye. “There will be a next time. I promise.”
I want to point out that he said something similar before he skipped out on me in the middle of the night, but I remind myself that we’d only known each other for a few hours then. And we didn’t have sex today, so it’s not like he used me so he could take my dog for a walk. For now, his promise is enough to assuage my worries about him disappearing again.
I flash him a warm smile to let him know I believe him. Mercifully, he takes my gesture as permission to kiss me.
His mouth lands softly over mine. His kiss just feels so right. Even with the rasp of his new facial hair abrading my lips, it’s as perfect as it was that night; as if he’s the first and only man I’ve ever kissed. Like we invented the kiss and everyone else just copied us.
When he pulls away, my head feels heavy, my thoughts fuzzy, as if I’ve downed a few cocktails. But I know it’s just the intoxicating effects of Jake’s touch.
The corner of his mouth pulls upward as he seems to recognize the effect he has on me. “I’ll text you later.”
He places one last kiss on the tip of my nose before he opens the door to leave. I stand partially in the doorway, holding the door slightly ajar as he heads toward the stairs. He glances back a couple of times with that sexy grin that makes me want to straddle him. The sight elicits a sigh from deep in my chest.
But my mind snaps back to reality when the door across the hallway opens, and my creepy neighbor emerges. As if they can sense something is wrong, Gary is suddenly prodding the backs of my legs, and Jake looks over his shoulder one last time before he descends the stairs. When he glimpses the man in the hallway, his gaze locks on him with an intensity I’ve seen in his eyes before, but never really understood.
I glance at my neighbor, but Jake’s presence gives me the courage not to smile this time. When I turn back to Jake, he’s stopped at the top of the stairs, watching and waiting, as if he can sense my uneasiness from thirty feet away.
“Hey,” my creepy neighbor says, glancing at my legs as Gary pushes his snout through my thighs, trying desperately to get past me.
I don’t respond to him, and he laughs.
“Is something funny?” I ask, reaching down to grab Gary’s collar as he’s now trying to squeeze past me through the gap between my leg and the doorframe.
My creepy neighbor stops in the corridor and turns his body halfway toward me. “I’m just trying to be friendly, but you seem to think you’re too good to say hi to me. So, yeah, I think it’s funny that you think I give a shit.”
My eyes widen as my pulse races. “You think I don’t say hi to you because I think I’m too good for you?”
But before he can answer, Jake arrives and positions himself between us.
“Is something wrong?” Jake asks me as he shoots the guy a deadly glare.
“No, it’s just neighbor stuff,” I reply, but I immediately regret downplaying the way this guy puts me so on edge.
I don’t want to get in a feud with my neighbor, but I also don’t want to feel threatened by this man’s aggressive insecurities every time I open my front door.
Unsatisfied with my answer, Jake turns to my neighbor. “Is there a problem?”
They’re both about the same height, but I’m certain that if this became physical, Jake would rip my skinny neighbor to shreds. And I wouldn’t want Jake to get in trouble for something like that.
My neighbor casts an unfriendly glance in my direction. “I don’t got any problems, man.”
Maintaining my grip on Gary’s collar, I venture into the hallway, letting the door close behind me so I can position myself and my dog between Jake and the creepy guy. But this only excites Gary and, as if he too is emboldened by Jake’s presence, my docile old man begins barking.
My neighbor doesn’t appreciate it, sneering at Gary the way he usually does.
“He’s supposed to be on a leash,” he remarks, then he turns around and heads toward the stairs.
“How about you mind your fucking business?” Jake calls after him.
Jake’s voice is calm, almost playful, as if he’s daring him to say or try something.
My neighbor stops in the middle of the corridor and turns around. “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
Jake closes the distance between them in a few strides and my neighbor appears afraid as he takes a few steps back, bumping into the wall behind him.
“We’ll see about what?” Jake says, getting in his face. “Is that a threat? Are you threatening her?”
My heart is pounding out of my chest as I’m frozen in place.
“I’m not threatening her, but she needs to keep that dog on a leash. It’s the building rules,” my neighbor says, his words tumbling out fast as he repeatedly glances in my direction, as if he’s silently pleading with me to intervene.
My body breaks out of freeze-mode and moves into fight-mode as I open the door and push Gary inside.
“You know I never have Gary off-leash,” I say to my neighbor, then I make my way to Jake and carefully place a hand on his arm. “He can’t actually make a complaint.”
Jake’s chest rises and falls heavily as he continues to stare at my neighbor. “Are you going to leave her alone?”
“I won’t make a complaint.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Jake says, his tone low and deadly now. “I asked if you’re going to leave her alone.”
My neighbor glances at me and nods.
Jake’s fists are clenched at his sides as he steps back and nods toward the stairs. “Leave.”
My neighbor wastes no time disappearing down the stairwell. When I can no longer hear his footsteps, I look up at Jake. His eyes are fixed on the stairwell as the rise and fall of his chest slows. After a moment, he turns to me and his face is a mixture of emotions, some of which I can’t discern. But I definitely recognize regret and anger.
“I hope I didn’t scare you. It just pisses me off when guys try to intimidate women for just existing.”
“That’s a pretty accurate description of my relationship with that neighbor.”
He looks concerned now. “How long has he been harassing you?”
“I wouldn’t exactly call it harassment, but—”
“It’s harassment. That guy has creeper written all over his fucking face.”
I pause as I consider whether I should downplay how much I agree with his assessment. “It’s only been a couple of times that he’s made me feel uncomfortable. But I’m sure he’ll think twice about it now.”
“A couple of times is twice too many. If he says or does anything again, you need to come to me.”
“I’ll just tell management about it.”
Jake shakes his head, and his eyes are filled with a blazing need for me to understand him. “No, you don’t understand. They won’t do anything. He pays rent just like you, and they always give these creeps the benefit of the doubt. You come to me. You understand?”
I nod, almost afraid to disagree with him. “I do. And I will. I’ll tell you if he does anything else.”
He heaves a deep sigh of relief. “Fuck. I should get going. But I’m definitely going to text you later.”
He grabs my face and kisses my forehead before pulling me into a tight hug. I bury my face in his chest as I wrap my arms around his waist.
“I don’t want you to be scared,” he says, kissing the top of my head before he lets go of me.
“I’m not,” I assure him.
He nods, but he doesn’t seem convinced.
“Lock your door,” he says, flashing me a guarded smile as he turns to leave.
As he descends the stairs, I wonder why that entire encounter felt strange to me. It isn’t until I’m back inside, and running the dog brush through Gary’s fur, that I’m finally able to put my finger on it.
Jake seems to feel my neighbor presents more of a danger to me than I do. Is this because men are better able to sense another man’s ill intentions? Or is Jake one of those volatile guys who can never resist the opportunity for a confrontation?
I shake my head at this thought as Gary rolls onto his back to discourage me from brushing his fur.
I recall how Jake helped me with Gary today. I don’t think he’s the type of guy who goes looking for a fight. He seems more like the guy who goes looking for someone to save. But this could be because his father was a literal hero who flew around in a helicopter rescuing people.
Whatever it is, I think what matters most is that I feel safe with him. Whether I know him enough to justify those feelings is a chance every woman—and man—takes when starting a new relationship. I hope this safe feeling lasts.
After I’m done grooming Gary, and I’ve settled down into bed around midnight, my phone buzzes on my nightstand.
Jake: Are you safe in bed?
I reply with a selfie of just my face and the covers tucked under my chin.
Jake: What do you have on underneath those blankets?
I hesitate as I consider sending him a picture of my black panties and bare breasts, but I decide against it as I remember his comment about patience.
Me: Just a T-shirt and panties.
Jake: What kind of T-shirt?
Me: Actually, I’m not wearing a shirt.
Jake: And you sent me a pic of your covers pulled up to your chin?
Me: I didn’t want to get you too excited.
Jake: Good call. Just the thought of it has me dangerously close to hopping in my truck and heading straight over there.
Me: In that case, I lied about the underwear too.
Jake: I want you to touch yourself tonight. And I want you to imagine it’s my mouth on you while you do it.
Me: Okay. Anything else you want me to do?
Jake: I want you to come to the bar this weekend and meet my friends.
I stare wide-eyed at the text message as I try to think of a response.
Me: Are you sure?
Jake: I’m positive. I’ll pick you up Saturday at 9:30. Cool?
I bite my lip as a million questions mingle in my mind. Is this too fast? Is this a test? Do I actually want to do this?
My muscles warm as I remind myself I have a gorgeous man who wants to protect me and support me. And he’s considering making me a part of his life.
My body relaxes into the mattress and an uncontrollable grin spreads across my face. The cocktail of emotions I’m feeling right now is exactly what I needed when I walked into Jake’s bar four months ago. It took him a few tries, but he finally got it right.
Me: Cool.
Jake: Goodnight, baby.
Me: Goodnight, 007.
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Author Cassia Leo
About the Author New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time re-watching Game of Thrones and Sex and the City. When she’s not binge watching, she’s usually enjoying the Oregon rain with a hot cup of coffee and a book.
Welcome to the book blitz for ALPHA, the first book in the adult contemporary romance/romantic suspense series, Alpha Elite, by USA Today bestselling author Sybil Bartel . See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
The Teams trained me to be a killer. War taught me to be ruthless. Then an ill-fated mission proved I was human. Combat wounded, The Navy cut me loose. I had a choice. Fade into obscurity or use the skills I had.
Alpha Elite Security was born and three years later, my company was the most sought after security contractor in the world. Five global locations, ten company jets, every one of my employees military trained—we were the best of the best. Overseeing operations, I didn’t have time for women, or anything other than growing my company. My success rate unmatched, I’d never lost a client.
Then I got a call, the only call that would get me back in the field. She was missing. The woman I’d left behind seven years ago. Now I had one objective.
Code name: Alpha. Mission: Extraction.
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Excerpt #2 I didn’t give a damn about the guard in the hall.
I wasn’t even thinking about the cameras.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her throat vibrated with a moan. I was taking what was mine. What should’ve been mine seven years ago.
Slanting my mouth over hers, I sank my tongue into utter madness.
But before I could claim her with a single stroke, the cold steel of a barrel hit my temple. “The sheikh wants a word.”
Releasing her mouth but not her, I ground out a response instead of wiping the fucking floor with the asshole’s face. “Tell Mr. Al Ka’abi the next time one of his guards pulls a gun on me, it’ll be the last.”
“How about you tell him yourself.” The guard pressed the barrel harder into my temple. “Now.”
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About the Author
Author Sybil Bartel
Sybil Bartel grew up in Northern California with her head in a book and her feet in the sand. She dreamt of becoming a painter but the heady scent of libraries with their shelves full of books drew her into the world of storytelling. She loves the New Adult genre, but any story about a love so desperately wrong and impossibly beautiful makes her swoon.
Sybil now resides in Southern Florida and while she doesn’t get to read as much as she likes, she still buries her toes in the sand. If she isn’t writing or fighting to contain the banana plantation in her backyard, you can find her spending time with her handsomely tattooed husband, her brilliantly practical son and a mischievous miniature boxer…
But Seriously?
Here are ten things you probably really want to know about Sybil.
She grew up a faculty brat. She can swear like a sailor. She loves men in uniform. She hates being told what to do. She can do your taxes (but don’t ask). The Bird Market in Hong Kong freaks her out. Her favorite word is desperate…or dirty, or both—she can’t decide. She has a thing for muscle cars. But never reply on her for driving directions, ever. And she has a new book boyfriend every week—don’t tell her husband.
To find out more about Sybil Bartel, be sure to follow her on Twitter (she loves to hear about your favorite book boyfriend!), visit her website, like her on Facebook or join her Facebook group Book Boyfriend Heroes for exclusive excerpts and giveaways.
Welcome to the book blitz for MAGICIAN RISING, a stand-alone new adult urban fantasy, by Renée des Lauriers. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Dark powers she can’t control. Deadly hunters tracking her down. Can she rip the target off her back before it turns fatal?
Jun Bear has lived with bad luck all her life. And when a professor threatens to give her a failing grade, the college senior sees her hopes for graduating in two months going down another ill-fated drain. But her fortunes plunge further when an unnatural earthquake shakes the campus and unleashes cold-blooded assassins after her head…
Unsure what’s happening, Jun finds herself facing a trained killer intent on exposing the wielder of the dangerous magic. And when she’s provoked into revealing her unexpected new abilities, she’s determined to prove her innocence before she’s permanently eliminated.
Can she win over an ally and survive a bloodthirsty secret society fixated on wiping her out?
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Excerpt #2 Then Nikolai felt it: the air pulling tight, like the bowstring of an arrow drawn back, about to be let loose. Nikolai clenched the wooden arms of his chair. This was magic capable of much worse than a 6.5 earthquake and one injury. He braced himself in the case of a quake, scanning down the rows in front of him for any sign of a magician at work.
There were too many people, and all of them could be crushed to death if the building collapsed. This was exactly what he wanted to avoid. If he stopped the magician before the magic spiraled out of control, he could limit the amount of casualties.
Then the lights went out. Everyone was plunged into a deep darkness. There was a pause for a beat before a worried murmur took over the class. Cell phone lights flashed around the room. Nikolai knew this was the moment he could strike; his aim with the knife would be deadly. If only he had a target.
Almost as soon as the pressure in the air started, it faded away. Nikolai felt the charged air around the room recoil and disappear, vanishing like mist. The lights flickered back on. Immediately he tried to identify the source, but it was impossible with everyone looking around, talking in hushed voices while their spineless professor tried to calm the students. The class began to settle once more, though a lot of students quickly packed their belongings to leave. Maybe they could feel it, the unsettling shift in the air. Or smell the burnt ozone.
It was strange, though. He never experienced anything quite like this. When magic was built up to that strength and caliber, it typically rampaged into mass destruction. This was something else. This magician was nothing like the others he’d taken down in the past.
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Author Renée des Lauriers
About the Author Renée was raised by a folk singer and an accountant to be analytically creative. From thirteen, she played guitar and sang on stage at coffee shops. She also oil painted and wrote poetry on odd paper scraps. Besides writing, Renee has worked as an emergency medical technician and a high school English teacher. Now she lives in California with her family.
Welcome to the book blitz for BECOMING BROOKLYN, a stand-alone young adult contemporary scifi, by Amanda Deich. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Eighteen-year-old Brooklyn never knew her father. Rex Blackburn died in the 9/11 attacks four months before she was born.
And even though she never met him, she always dreamed about what he must have been like before he died. In her mind, he was a hero.
Little did she know.
After an attack at a 9/11 memorial gala, Brooklyn learns her father had been a member of an elite, anti-terrorism, military task force, made up of a very select group of people who had superhuman abilities. On the day the towers fell, he died using his power to save people.
The Army believes she inherited his gift, and Brooklyn is invited to train at West Point in order to hone her skills. Knowing deep down she is different than anyone else her age and wanting to learn more about a father she never knew, she readily agrees to become a cadet at the prestigious military academy.
She and five other 9/11 babies strengthen their superhuman abilities and spend weeks preparing themselves for their future in the army, fighting terrorists at home and abroad. And in the process of training, they identify with their deceased parents in a way they never knew they could.
Brooklyn knows she’ll go to war someday, but when terrorists find out about the group’s gifts, they don’t bother to wait.
They bring the war to West Point.
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Excerpt #3 I was still shaking when Liam crawled off of the ground and clung to me in an embrace. He was wheezing, but other than that, he seemed okay.
Different, but okay.
And I felt different, too. Altered, somehow. Like I was an actor cast in a part I never wanted to play.
I studied him, exploring those eyes that had grabbed hold of me from day one and refused to let go.
And I saw something new.
I saw hate.
His jaw clenched. He left my side and walked purposefully toward the body of the man trapped under the bench. He grabbed the knife that was resting on the ground next to the body and without hesitating, he strode toward the man who had choked him and had threatened to hurt me.
“Stop, Liam,” I commanded.
He wasn’t listening.
“STOP!”
I ran to him now. He was still intent on reaching the monster.
Finally, I caught his elbow.
“You’re a healer, Liam. Not a killer.”
That role had been filled by me.
“You are a healer,” I repeated, making him look me in the eye.
And just like that, Liam stopped. His look softened, as if he was seeing what he was doing for the first time.
“Christ,” he mumbled, first dropping the knife, then dropping to his knees.
And instead of trying to reach the body of either man, he reached for me, instead.
We stayed like that for a moment, lost in a place we’d never visited before: one where we’d done the worst kind of things.
Jacob shuffled out from the shadows and walked briskly to the first man I’d attacked, who was trapped under the bench.
I’d almost forgotten he was there.
Jacob kneeled, pressing his neck for a pulse. “He’s gone,” he declared.
I didn’t know if I was relieved or upset.
“I- I’ll go find someone to come help,” Jacob offered. He seemed thankful when I nodded my assent.
“I’m sorry,” Liam said as Jacob left. He’d turned his back to me, and his voice was a quieted whisper. His shoulders fell forward as he spoke. “I’m sorry I was going to – to do that to him– in front of you. What I was feeling – what I was thinking when he threatened to hurt you – I-I’d never felt or thought those things before.
When he said that about how he was going to show you how pretty you were…” He spun toward me, his face masked in pain.
“That image was worse than anything I could ever imagine.”
“I don’t know what’s happening to either one of us – who we’re turning into,” Liam continued. His eyes looked more silver than green, as if he’d been shocked into becoming someone – or something – else. “But I do know that I don’t want to ever see you in danger again.”
I closed my eyes for a moment and considered how nice that sounded – a danger-free life.
He grabbed my hand. “But Brooklyn, if we have to be in danger, if we are going to be part of this world, then I need you by my side.”
In that moment, I wanted more than anything to kiss him, to reassure him I felt the same way.
But I never got the chance.
Jacob returned. And just as he entered the room – before he could warn Liam, and before I could even utter a word, a knife flew into Liam’s back.
“Sorry I break up this… this romance,” the man whom I’d thrown into the wall snarled, tearing the knife out of Liam’s flesh, catching his body and holding it hostage. “But I’ve got job to finish.”
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Author Amanda Deich
About the Author Amanda Deich is an author out of Littleton, CO. In her non-writer life, she is a teacher and coach to hundreds of kids, and she is a mama to two. If you meet her, she’ll talk Jesus and identity like no one’s business.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE HIDDEN PRINCESS, the first book in the young adult fantasy series, Princess League, by Mira Crest. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE HIDDEN PRINCESS (Princess League Series #1) by Mira Crest
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: THE HIDDEN PRINCESS Series: Princess League Series #1 Author: Mira Crest Release Date: April 16, 2020
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
Synopsis Penny is an ugly princess born to a family known for its beautiful offspring. To protect the royal bloodline’s reputation, the king proclaims her dead since birth and locks her away in the castle cellar.
But unbeknown to most, including herself, Penny has a gift: she can see the darkness within one’s mind through touch.
Everett is a dragon prince whose land is plagued by a deadly sickness in the form of black mist, capable of turning any fairy being it touches into stone. He comes to Penny’s kingdom seeking the one princess foretold to end the darkness.
The choice is clear, it’s either Penny’s cynical eldest sister, Tatiana, or her kind elder sister, Sarah, because Penny does not exist, not officially. But a twist of fate and Penny’s gift bring her to Everett’s attention, and she takes on a secret identity to aid him to trace the origin of the black mist.
What follows is a journey into a dark magical world within the minds of the corrupt, ruled by demons that plague on the dark aspects of the human psyche.
With the clock fast ticking, the prince must discover who the chosen one is in order to defeat the black mist before it turns him to stone and spreads to the rest of the world. But there are those who will do anything to keep Penny’s identity hidden.
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Excerpt #2 The noises of the tavern drained away, and a gloom fell over the place. It reminded her of what happened at Marvin’s store. She was back in the Eternal, though, this time, she was at the tavern. All the people around her had frozen. She walked across the still crowd and saw Everett protecting Sarah from several Brutes. The other dragon warriors were busy keeping any hostiles from getting near Tatiana, who was lying on the ground. She had one eye slightly open to peek at her surroundings. It was pretty obvious she was faking unconsciousness.
When all seemed still and quiet, she caught sight of something stirring in the darkness of the tavern’s interior. Black mist! It was dripping from the ceiling, rising from the floor. Mist from different spots rushed to the center of the tavern and merged. Something grotesque was forming from it. Penny quickly hid behind the tavern counter and observed the transformation. A wolf took shape, only this time it was nearly thrice as large as the previous one.
Was this new mist form a manifestation of the head Brute’s anger? If it was, it was a clear indication of how much it had grown. Could this huge wolf be the cause of the mist, and defeating it would destroy the mist altogether? There was only one way to find out.
Penny readied herself. She checked her feet and saw the shiny red shoes were back. She peered out from the side of the counter, but the wolf was no longer at where it had stood. Carefully, she emerged and took cover under a table. Bit by bit, she advanced closer and closer. She needed to be close enough to open the portal and bring it to reality.
“Penny, you can do this!” As she moved to the next table, the wolf turned wildly with its eyes fixed on Penny.
She put out her hand and a fireball shot out, hitting the back of the wolf. Its bellow shook the tavern. More fireballs hit the body of the wolf, but they only made the demon angrier. It leaped and crashed down on the tables before Penny.
It sank its terrifying misty black fangs into the table, concealing Penny and crushing it into debris. Penny ducked away in time. She was then lying on the floor as the wolf turned toward its attacker. Penny willed her mind and conjured as much power as she could, igniting blast after blast. The wolf roared as the fiery magic engulfed its front body.
She got back on her feet and backed away, but the wolf clawed at her, slashing her shoulder. Penny suddenly felt drained, wincing at the searing pain in her shoulder. That voice, she heard it before. It was the most familiar voice; it was hers. Immense rage came flooding through her all of a sudden. Thoughts of her staring into the mirror at her ugly reflection and trapped inside a cell rushed into her mind.
The wolf closed in as she crawled away and hid beneath another table. The wolf clawed under the table, barely missing her as she moved out of range. She tried to conjure magic, but every blow she delivered hit the wrong places and missed its target.
“What’s going on?” It was like her magic was malfunctioning. It must have something to do with her getting slashed by the wolf’s claw. She was going to die if she didn’t find a way out.
The wolf smashed the table to pieces. She had nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. The wolf’s snout was before her. Anytime now it’s going to devour her.
She struggled and gathered her thoughts, focusing instead on the happiest memory buried within her. She closed her eyes. The wolf’s mouth closed in, ready to consume its helpless prey.
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About the Author Since young, Mira loves fantasy romance with strong female protagonists and perilous adventures to magical realms and parallel universes to visit dragons, witches, shifters, and fairy tale creatures, bringing heroes and heroines together and aiding their epic fantasy battles against dark enemies so they can have the happily-ever-afters they deserve.
When she grew up, she takes a liking to young adult stories, which explains her passion writing in the young adult fantasy romance genre. Her books are clean romance with character development as the prime focus. Even now, she still journeys to fantasy realms whenever she’s not writing.
Welcome to the book blitz for OPPOSITES ATTRACT, the first book in the adult contemporary romantic comedy series, The Nerd/Jock Connection, by Jacqueline Lee. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
OPPOSITES ATTRACT (The Nerd-Jock Connection Series #1) by Jacqueline Lee
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: OPPOSITES ATTRACT Series: The Nerd/Jock Connection Series #1 Author: Jacqueline Lee Release Date: May 27, 2021
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
Synopsis Megan is nerdier than all of the characters on The Big Bang Theory combined. But it’s a fabulous form of revenge that the same traits she was tormented for in high school have helped her land her dream job as a science journalist in New York and her dream apartment with fellow nerd, Josh, who is potentially her dream guy. The only problem is Josh’s brother, Brandon, is constantly around blocking any attempts to create a romantic atmosphere. Megan nurses an oversized grudge against jocks due to a past traumatic experience. The fact that Brandon’s a professional football player whose new favorite sport is mocking her only increases her fantasies of feeding him to a giant carnivorous plant.
Brandon’s life might look perfect, but he’s got a massive hang-up about his intelligence, a hang-up which is aggravated by all the verbal sparring with Josh’s new roommate. Even worse, it appears Science Barbie is falling for his deeply closeted brother. Why does he care so much about preventing the impending disaster? But the more time he spends with Megan, the more he realizes the sparks between them have the potential to ignite into something amazing.
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Excerpt #2 “Come on.” I get to my feet and reach down, offering her my hand.
She looks suspiciously at it, like it’s a viper about to make a quick dinner of her flesh. “Where do you want to go?” she asks.
“Come dance with me.”
“I suck at dancing.”
“So what? I’m good enough for both of us.”
She rolls her eyes.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so grateful to see an eye roll in my life. “And you don’t know anyone here. Who cares if you look stupid?” I continue.
“I kind of care,” she says quietly. But she takes my hand, and I pull her to her feet. Her hand is soft in mine. She withdraws it quickly, but obediently follows me across the lawn and up the porch steps.
Inside, I find us an empty space on the edge of the dance floor. The band is playing a decent version of Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl, so I find my groove quickly.
Megan finds her groove too, but it’s not a smoothly worn one—more a rough stutter. She was right. She’s a terrible dancer. She shuffles her feet from side to side in what is a spot-on imitation of awkward middle-school boys.
“You need to loosen up,” I say.
Megan starts flopping her arms and legs around like they have no bones. “Is this loose enough?”
“Almost.”
“I never know what to do with my arms,” she confesses as she pulls them rigidly by her side.
“When in doubt, go for a set move.”
She eyes me skeptically. “Like what?”\
“Like the swimmer.” I start doing breaststroke actions.
Megan’s face folds into a smile.
Spurred on, I continue, “If you need to vary it up a bit you can always go for the snorkel move.”
I put my hand on my nose and shimmy down in a perfect snorkel.
“So that’s what I’ve been doing wrong all these years. I haven’t been getting my dance tips from The Little Mermaid,” she says, straight-faced.
“It’s a serious mistake. The Little Mermaid musical numbers rock,” I deadpan back.
Which leads us to a whole new game of trying to come up with under-the-sea dance moves.
Megan invents the Octopus, which involves wildly flailing limbs. I almost double over, I’m laughing so hard.
I reply with the shark, holding my palms pressed together on top of my head, humming the theme song to Jaws. Dum-dum. Dum-dum.
Megan shakes her head at me. “How do you still manage to look coordinated when you’re doing something so stupid? You just can’t do uncoordinated, can you?”
“It’s a curse I have to bear,” I say.
A slow song comes on. Ed Sheeran’s singing about loving someone until they’re seventy. Megan stops dancing and looks suspiciously at me.
“Come here.” I grab her hand and pull her toward me.
“What’s this move called?” She takes a reluctant step, putting one hand tentatively on my shoulder and the other on my waist.
“This is called the limpet,” I say as I tug her closer.
I feel her laugh vibrating against my chest.
We shuffle around the dance floor as Ed croons about how people fall in love in mysterious ways. And I discover having Megan’s feet so close to mine is actually hazardous.
“Sorry,” she mutters when she treads on my toes.
“That’s okay, I didn’t need that foot. I have a spare one.”
She pulls back to look at me, her lips quirking in a smile. “Um, you’re a professional athlete. I’m pretty sure you need both your feet.”
“Let’s not start arguing about the merits of professional sport right now, okay?”
I’m expecting her to argue, but instead she just shrugs. “Okay.”
She rests her head back against my chest, and I catch a whiff of her perfume. I’m right, it’s vanilla, but there is something else floral in there as well, along with a sharply sweet smell of hairspray. Suddenly I’m concerned about what she’s hearing in my chest, because I’m fairly sure my heart is thudding like I’ve got a killer whale bearing down on me.
Shit. As long as the action doesn’t spread to my groin we’re all good.
But I’m quickly aware there are no guarantees. Because there’s something about holding Megan this close that is stirring stuff throughout my body. My fingers are lightly touching her at the curve of her waist, and I can feel the heat of her skin through her dress.
Having her in my arms like this, something clicks perfectly into place. The closest I’ve ever felt to this has come on the football field, when I’ve thrown the perfect pass, the type that cuts through the air like a blade and lands with a satisfying thud in the hands of the receiver.
I look down at her. My gaze snags on the little patch of bare skin behind her ear. I have a sudden urge to press my lips to it.
My breath catches in my throat.
She pulls back and raises her eyes to mine, a half smile on her face. Whatever she sees on my face causes her smile to fade.
She stares at me, her blue eyes impossibly wide, her lips partially open. Her bottom lip is pink and full and inviting.
It would be so easy to lower my mouth to hers, to kiss her.
I take a deep breath. She’s vulnerable. She’s just had whatever hopes she had about my little brother dashed tonight. I can’t kiss her now. It would potentially be taking advantage of her emotional state and I never, ever want to be that guy.
But damn, there’s no denying I want to kiss her.
I release her and step back, running my hands through my hair. I immediately feel the absence of her body pressed up against me. It’s like stepping from a warm room into a cold freezer.
“Uh, I should call it a night.”
Megan stands there blinking like she’s woken up from a dream.
“Um…yeah. You do need your beauty sleep,” she says finally.
For a moment we stare at each other. Her brow is furrowed, like she’s trying to make sense of what just happened.
“Goodnight.” I do a pivot my coach would be proud of, stalking away through the table and chairs. I need to get as far away as possible, so I’m not tempted to go back.
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Author Jacqueline Lee
About the Author Never miss a new book or exclusive FREE short stories! Sign up to Jacqueline’s newsletter at: https://jacquelineleeauthor.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Jacqueline Lee is an award-winning romance author who writes stories with heart and humor. She loves writing characters who have fun with each other while building a deeper connection. Formerly a high school biology teacher, Jackie is living her own version of happily-ever-after with her husband and three children in New Zealand.
Welcome to the book blitz for THE DEVIL I DON’T KNOW, the first book in the adult mafia romance series, Brooklyn Kings, by L.K. Shaw. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE DEVIL I DON’T KNOW (Brooklyn Kings Series #1) by L.K. Shaw
My father is dying, and I’ve been called back to Brooklyn to take my place as the head of the Italian syndicate. After a seven year absence, my first test of loyalty is to marry the granddaughter of the Irish mob’s leader. I may not want a wife, but I’ll kill anyone who tries to harm her.
I only hope she doesn’t expect love in our marriage. I can’t–won’t–love her. Not ever. I don’t have it in me.
Brenna Duty
That’s all my life has been. Then, my grandfather signs a marriage contract, and I become a pawn in an alliance between the Irish and the Italians. Once again I’m bound by duty.
I’ve always been invisible–the person who fades into the background–except soon my new husband begins to see me.
He’s a Brooklyn king, but will our enemies destroy my chance to become his queen?
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Excerpt #3 “You’re a dangerous woman, Brenna Ricci.”
“How so?” I ask, a little too breathless.
“Because you make it difficult to maintain control.”
A rush of pleasure surges through me at his words. I’m not the type of woman that makes men lose control.
I’m too bookish.
Too quiet.
Too invisible.
Except Jacob seems to see me.
“I wouldn’t mind, you know,” I whisper.
“Wouldn’t mind what?”
I bite my lip before answering and his gaze drops to my mouth before meeting my eyes again. “I wouldn’t mind you losing control.”
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Author L.K. Shaw
About the Author LK Shaw is the bestselling author of the sexy, sinful suspense. She resides in South Carolina with her high maintenance beagle mix dog, Miss P. An avid reader since childhood, she became hooked on historical romance novels in high school. She now reads, and loves, all romance sub-genres, with dark romance and romantic suspense being her favorite. LK enjoys traveling and chocolate. Her books feature hot alpha heroes and the strong women they love.
Want a FREE short story? Be sure to sign up for her newsletter and download your copy of A Birthday Spanking, a short story set in the Doms of Club Eden world! http://bit.ly/LKShawNewsletter/
Welcome to the blog tour for THE IMMORTAL GAME, a stand-alone young adult fantasy by Talia Rothschild and A.C. Harvey. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on their giveaway.
THE IMMORTAL GAME by Talia Rothschild and A.C. Harvey
Synopsis
An exiled goddess goes on a quest to clear her name and save Mount Olympus in Talia Rothschild & A C Harvey’s action-packed young adult debut, The Immortal Game!
Galene, daughter of Poseidon, desperately wants to earn her place among the gods. But when a violent attack leaves Mount Olympus in chaos and ruins, she is accused of the crime. Banished from Olympus, Galene sets out to prove her innocence and discovers a more deadly plot—one that threatens even the oldest of Immortals.
Fortunately, she has allies who willingly join her in exile:
A lifelong friend who commands the wind.
A defiant warrior with deadly skill.
A fire-wielder with a hero’s heart.
A mastermind who plays life like a game.
All-out war is knocking at the gates. Galene and her friends are the only ones who can tip the scales toward justice, but their choices could save Olympus from total annihilation, or be the doom of them all.
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Excerpt I will walk off that battlefield a victor.
She crossed into the stadium.
The crowd erupted into a roar, and Galene blinked in the sunlight.
The massive amphitheater stretched one hundred and fifty feet wide and twice as long. A wall encircled the dirt grounds, and above it, packed stands rose into the sky, a mosaic of dully colored tunics with spots of shining armor. It roiled as the crowd rose and fell, waving arms and cheering. Every god on Mount Olympus must have been there, along with visiting gods and goddesses who’d turned up for the event.
The sound was deafening, exhilarating. Jeers mingled with the revelry, but Galene ignored those. She pulled back her shoulders and lifted her chin, turning to find the small section of her fellow Unnamed—the young gods and goddesses who were still mortal. Iyana would take her seat there soon. She raised her hand toward them in acknowledgement.
In the front rows of the stands closest to her, on elevated seats, were the most powerful of all the gods: the Twelve Olympians. The rulers of both Mount Olympus and the humans below.
They watched her, glowing with power, the only silent spectators. Four decks of cards sat on a table before them, glowing like the Olympians themselves.
The Decks of Fate.
Despite the clear sky, a crack of thunder echoed throughout the stadium.
The crowd hushed instantly, and the King of Olympus, God of the Sky, stood. Above his trimmed, dark beard, Zeus’s storm-gray eyes scanned the crowd.
“Six months ago, the council of the Twelve Olympians enacted a new requirement: Poseidon’s children and my own are to take their Immortality Trials three years early, at the age of eighteen.” Zeus did not shout, but his words carried clearly to all listening. “With the powerful gifts bestowed upon our children, they are fit for this greater challenge.” He fixed his eyes on Galene. She inclined her head in deference. “Galene Unnamed is the first to face this new requirement. Today she will prove whether she is worthy to join the pantheon.”
The crowd cheered once more, and chills raced down Galene’s arms. She was ready—this was an opportunity. The Fates were giving her a chance to prove herself.
Zeus’s eyes focused solely on her. “Choose your terrain.”
Galene held his gaze. “Water.”
Zeus nodded, unsurprised, then turned to Poseidon. “If you will.”
Galene’s father stood. The Earth-shaker, God of the Seas, was tall like his brother, but not as broad. His long hair and beard were dark gray and unkempt, and a wild spark kindled in the sea-green eyes Galene had inherited. He looked at her only for a moment, offering barely a nod before turning away. She steeled herself.
Poseidon raised his arms, and the ground shook.
Widening her stance, Galene looked down. The dirt fractured, creating a circle around her a few paces in diameter. Cracks shot outward, webbing across the arena floor to break up the smooth, packed dirt. Clumps and boulders of loose earth trembled beneath Poseidon’s power, then tumbled downward, into the gaping fissures.
Piece by piece the arena floor fell away, crumbling until Galene was standing on a pinnacle, staring into an abyssal pit. Her stomach lurched at her sudden height, but Poseidon was not done. Through the rubble far below, water rose. It sloshed over the rocks and boulders, climbing rapidly until it surrounded Galene, leaving only a short drop between her and its settling surface.
She looked back to the Olympians. Her father’s face was grim as he retook his seat.
“Now let the Fates choose your opponent.” Zeus flicked his hand, and one of the Decks of Fate scattered forward, as though blown by the wind. Tumbling through the air, the golden cards spun toward Galene, slowing as they approached. Most of the deck came to a stop, hanging in the air like leaves on an invisible tree. Five cards, however, came closer, aligning themselves at Galene’s eye level.
“Choose three,” Zeus reminded her.
Galene reached up and hesitated. Don’t overthink it. She touched two on the left and one beside the far right. They glowed brighter, hanging there until all the other cards drew back, returning to a neat pile on the table.
The gold coating on the first card dissolved to reveal an image and printed words.
It depicted a whale-like sea creature with a gaping mouth lined with rows of long teeth.
Body of Cetus, the card read.
Galene swallowed. She had expected one of the cards to be monstrous—at least now she’d gotten the worst out of the way.
She turned to the second. Its golden coat, too, disappeared.
A giant gryphon was emblazoned on it, the fur and feathers shining with gold.
Hide of the Gryphiekin.
She blinked in shock. The King of the Gryphons’ eagle-and-lion hide was like armor, nearly impenetrable. This card was as bad as the first—drawing blood would be formidable, let alone killing whatever hybrid creature these cards would create.
Turning to the third and final card, Galene sent a silent prayer to the Fates. Please be something to balance these out—sight of a cyclops or something.
The gold disappeared, and she felt the ichor drain from her cheeks.
Heads of Scylla.
No.
Galene looked between them again. She had to have misread them—there had to be a mistake. But no: Body of Cetus, Hide of the Gryphiekin, Heads of Scylla. Each individual card could change any two basic creature qualities into a deadly beast, but all three together . . .
She clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms. This six-headed monster would be huge, smart, and nearly impossible to wound. I don’t know if I can do this. Her legs trembled, and she hoped the Olympians couldn’t tell.
The cards flew back, presenting themselves to the Twelve. Behind them, gods and goddesses leaned forward to get a look at the cards. Shocked murmurs rose, rippling around Galene as the word of her opponent was passed around the stadium.
Excitement began to vibrate through the crowd, people realizing that if nothing else, they were about to get a show.
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Author Talia Rothschild
About the Author Talia Rothschild, Italian American, is passionate about stories in many forms—music, dance, photography, film and, of course, great novels. She believes in thick hot chocolate and creamer in your tea. When she’s not happily writing, she’s mothering the sweetest baby girl and making memories with her husband. Her debut book The Immortal Game, coauthored with A. C. Harvey, hits the shelves May 2021.
About the Author Ashleigh Harvey is teaching high school physics and bringing her writing dreams to life. English-born and world-traveled, she loves filling her life with new adventures, such as visiting a new country or exploring the Wild West with her husband. She also finds escape in movies, music, literature, and yearly comic conventions. The Immortal Game is her debut novel, created alongside Talia Rothschild, her close friend.
Today is release day for SAVAGE LOVE, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Love Like This, by New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo. See below for information on the book, buy links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
SAVAGE LOVE (Love Like This Series #1) by Cassia Leo
When I walked into the bar across from the hospital, all I wanted was a drink to help me forget the worst day of my life. What I got was sexy, mysterious Jake Maxwell and the most amazing one-night stand of my life.
Months later, he seeks me out with an unconventional offer: He’d like to take me and my dog for a walk.
My lazy dog could use the exercise, and I could use something to distract me from the pain of my sister’s death. Jake’s bad puns, gorgeous smile, and protective nature turn out to be the perfect medicine for my injured soul.
But just like the day we met, that one date turns into so much more. And as Jake and I grow closer, it becomes difficult to separate his pain from my own.
All I want is to share the burden of his secret. But some truths are too savage to be spoken.
Savage Love is a new steamy, emotional stand-alone romance from New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo. This book deals with sensitive subject matter. Due to graphic scenes and strong language, reader discretion is advised.
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Author Cassia Leo
About the Author New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time re-watching Game of Thrones and Sex and the City. When she’s not binge watching, she’s usually enjoying the Oregon rain with a hot cup of coffee and a book.
New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo is revealing the cover to SAVAGE LOVE, the first book in the adult contemporary romance series, Love Like This, releasing May 25, 2021. See below for information on the book, preorder links, and an exclusive excerpt.
SAVAGE LOVE (Love Like This Series #1) by Cassia Leo
When I walked into the bar across from the hospital, all I wanted was a drink to help me forget the worst day of my life. What I got was sexy, mysterious Jake Maxwell and the most amazing one-night stand of my life.
Months later, he seeks me out with an unconventional offer: He’d like to take me and my dog for a walk.
My lazy dog could use the exercise, and I could use something to distract me from the pain of my sister’s death. Jake’s bad puns, gorgeous smile, and protective nature turn out to be the perfect medicine for my injured soul.
But just like the day we met, that one date turns into so much more. And as Jake and I grow closer, it becomes difficult to separate his pain from my own.
All I want is to share the burden of his secret. But some truths are too savage to be spoken.
Savage Love is a new steamy, emotional stand-alone romance from New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo. This book deals with sensitive subject matter. Due to graphic scenes and strong language, reader discretion is advised.
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Excerpt Colette
When we’ve finished lathering Gary, I let the water out of the tub and pass the handheld shower-head to Jake, so he can do the rinsing. Twice, Gary tries to shake the water off before Jake is done, soaking our shirts with soapy, gray bathwater. Eventually, I remember that this is supposed to be a lesson. So I show Jake how to stop him from shaking off the water by placing his hand on Gary’s head.
Afterward, I give Jake the large orange bath sheet I’ve designated for Gary, and he drapes it over him. He spends a few minutes towel-drying him, then he wraps the bath sheet around his damp body, lifts him out of the tub, and cradles my boy in his arms like a baby.
He nuzzles Gary’s wet nose, and my dog takes this as an invitation to settle his snout into the crook of Jake’s solid neck. “You were a very good boy,” Jake coos. “Yes, you were.”
I stare at him as my heart turns to mush. “Sorry about your shirt.”
He laughs as Gary licks his neck.
“I don’t mind,” he says, glancing at my chest. “But you might want to change yours.”
I look down and gasp. My nipples are showing through the light-pink top I’m wearing.
Jake follows me out of the bathroom with Gary still cradled in his arms. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”
I tug open the second drawer of my dresser and pull out a purple UW T-shirt. When I turn around, I find Jake and Gary lying on my bed, smiling at each other as he continues to towel-dry him. What the fuck is going on here?
“Am I getting swooped by a Golden Retriever?” I say as I unfold the T-shirt.
“Excuse me, but we’re trying to have a moment here,” Jake says, scratching Gary’s belly as Gary attempts to make himself comfortable on my pillow.
“Well, can you close your eyes for a moment, so I can change my shirt?”
He looks at me with obvious confusion. “Are you serious?”
I roll my eyes and briskly remove my top, revealing that I’m not wearing a bra.
“Happy now?” I say as I pull on the clean T-shirt.
He stops scratching Gary’s belly and reaches down to adjust the crotch of his jeans as his gaze zeroes in on my chest.
“I should get going.” He springs up from the bed, giving Gary a mild startle. “Sorry, buddy.”
“I thought this was nothing you hadn’t seen before?” I say, grinning at the effect my body has on him.
He shakes his head. “Yeah, but that’s like when an alcoholic tells you they’ll be fine having just one beer. Never believe that shit.”
I finish pulling my hair out of the back of my T-shirt. “So, you’re the alcoholic and I’m the beer in this analogy, right?”
Now that I’m fully clothed, he allows his gaze to wander the length of my body from my bare feet all the way upward until his eyes meet mine.
“I’d say you’re more of a bourbon straight up, but yes. You’re dangerous,” he says, maintaining a safe distance between us.
My brow furrows at the word dangerous. “Do you mean that in general? Or am I only dangerous to you? ’Cause, honestly, I think I’m pretty boring.”
He shakes his head as I make my way toward him. “Trust me, boring is not a word I’d use to describe you.”
I stop a few feet away from him to respect his personal space. “Speaking of drinking, are you thirsty? Can I interest you in a glass of the finest tap water in America?”
The change of subject seems to put him at ease.
“Actually, I’ve answered a lot of your questions today. But there’s one question you haven’t answered for me yet.”
“Shoot.”
He flashes me a charming smile, and it definitely looks like he’s been dying to get something off his chest. “I already answered this question for you, so it’s my turn to ask it… Have you thought of me since that night?”
I chuckle at the insinuation that I could somehow forget the best and worst day of my life. “You’re kidding, right?”
He looks pleased with my response. “Is that a yes?”
“Uh… that’s a big yes. I mean…” My voice trails off as memories of that day flash in my mind: his arms carrying me, his solid chest pressing me against the shower wall, the way he knew exactly how I wanted to be kissed, the way he effortlessly slipped into the role of friend-slash-lover-slash-caregiver, then just as easily slipped away into the night. “You’re not exactly easy to forget.”
His smile is tempered by this disclosure. “I do aim to please.”
The response feels hollow, almost as if he’s uncomfortable being thought of as unforgettable. Some people are naturally bad at accepting praise. Dahlia would say this kind of behavior is a trauma response.
Maybe it makes him uneasy to picture me thinking about him every day. Was he hoping I’d say he barely crossed my mind? Was he being hyperbolic last night when he claimed he thought of me every day?
Maybe I’m just overthinking this.
“Do you have to get going?” I ask as he takes his phone out of his pocket to glance at the screen.
“Yeah, I have a meeting in the morning with—well, it’s about tips.”
My eyebrows pinch together as I feel a little confused. “You’re having a meeting about bar tips?”
My question makes him laugh. “No, not bar tips. T-I-P-S is the acronym for the software project. I just call it tips. It’s easier.”
I cast a sideways glance in his direction. “Are you allowed to tell me what T-I-P-S stands for?”
“No, but don’t worry. It’s not very interesting. Unlike you.”
I smile at his uncanny ability to always bring the subject back to me.
“Okay,” I say, accepting his inability to discuss the project.
I try not to let my disappointment show, but the secretiveness surrounding his work feels like one more roadblock to getting to know Jake. And now that he’s leaving so soon after I basically flashed my breasts at him, I question whether I’ve misread him.
His expression becomes serious as he holds my gaze for a long moment.
“I’m not leaving because I want to,” he clarifies, and his tone is urgent with the need for me to believe him. “I’m leaving because I don’t want to mess this up again. Okay?”
My body tingles as I’m flooded with feel-good chemicals. “Okay.”
I remind myself of Dahlia’s warning to not get caught up questioning whether Jake likes me. So, instead, I take her advice and ask myself, do I like Jake?
Of course, I like him. And now that I think about it, it’s ridiculous to question if he feels the same. The question isn’t whether we like each other. The real question is, are we right for each other?
And there’s only one way to find out.
As I lead him to the door, the feel-good chemicals slowly dissipate as I worry this is the last time I’m going to see him. But as I place my hand on the door handle, I freeze when I feel his body pressed softly against my back.
“You smell really fucking good,” he murmurs as he gently turns me around so we’re facing each other.
I swallow hard as his gaze lands on my mouth. “So do you.”
The corner of his mouth curves upward.
“Is this okay?” he whispers, brushing the backs of his fingers over my cheek.
I nod. “Yes.”
His hand moves down slowly, grazing my jaw as he reaches around to clasp the back of my neck.
“And this?”
I nod again as his fingers slip under the hair at my nape, gently closing around it.
“How about this?” he says, leaning forward to lay a soft kiss on my cheek.
The sensation of his scruff and his lips against my skin sends a jolt of pleasure coursing through me. I nod slowly to let him know what he’s doing is very okay, and he responds by tightening his grip ever so slightly on my hair. The throbbing between my legs transforms into a painful ache as my need to kiss him becomes unbearable.
He softly brushes his lips down my cheek and places a tender kiss on the corner of my mouth.
“I’ve been dreaming of having you for months,” he murmurs as the enormous bulge in his jeans presses against my belly. “But this time, I’m going to be patient and take my time with you.”
I reach up to grab fistfuls of his T-shirt for support as my knees get weak.
“Being patient isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” I whisper as I struggle to catch my breath. “I mean, patience has gotten us Game of Thrones fans nowhere.”
He takes my face in his hands and looks me in the eye. “There will be a next time. I promise.”
I want to point out that he said something similar before he skipped out on me in the middle of the night, but I remind myself that we’d only known each other for a few hours then. And we didn’t have sex today, so it’s not like he used me so he could take my dog for a walk. For now, his promise is enough to assuage my worries about him disappearing again.
I flash him a warm smile to let him know I believe him. Mercifully, he takes my gesture as permission to kiss me.
His mouth lands softly over mine. His kiss just feels so right. Even with the rasp of his new facial hair abrading my lips, it’s as perfect as it was that night; as if he’s the first and only man I’ve ever kissed. Like we invented the kiss and everyone else just copied us.
When he pulls away, my head feels heavy, my thoughts fuzzy, as if I’ve downed a few cocktails. But I know it’s just the intoxicating effects of Jake’s touch.
The corner of his mouth pulls upward as he seems to recognize the effect he has on me. “I’ll text you later.”
He places one last kiss on the tip of my nose before he opens the door to leave. I stand partially in the doorway, holding the door slightly ajar as he heads toward the stairs. He glances back a couple of times with that sexy grin that makes me want to straddle him. The sight elicits a sigh from deep in my chest.
But my mind snaps back to reality when the door across the hallway opens, and my creepy neighbor emerges. As if they can sense something is wrong, Gary is suddenly prodding the backs of my legs, and Jake looks over his shoulder one last time before he descends the stairs. When he glimpses the man in the hallway, his gaze locks on him with an intensity I’ve seen in his eyes before, but never really understood.
I glance at my neighbor, but Jake’s presence gives me the courage not to smile this time. When I turn back to Jake, he’s stopped at the top of the stairs, watching and waiting, as if he can sense my uneasiness from thirty feet away.
“Hey,” my creepy neighbor says, glancing at my legs as Gary pushes his snout through my thighs, trying desperately to get past me.
I don’t respond to him, and he laughs.
“Is something funny?” I ask, reaching down to grab Gary’s collar as he’s now trying to squeeze past me through the gap between my leg and the doorframe.
My creepy neighbor stops in the corridor and turns his body halfway toward me. “I’m just trying to be friendly, but you seem to think you’re too good to say hi to me. So, yeah, I think it’s funny that you think I give a shit.”
My eyes widen as my pulse races. “You think I don’t say hi to you because I think I’m too good for you?”
But before he can answer, Jake arrives and positions himself between us.
“Is something wrong?” Jake asks me as he shoots the guy a deadly glare.
“No, it’s just neighbor stuff,” I reply, but I immediately regret downplaying the way this guy puts me so on edge.
I don’t want to get in a feud with my neighbor, but I also don’t want to feel threatened by this man’s aggressive insecurities every time I open my front door.
Unsatisfied with my answer, Jake turns to my neighbor. “Is there a problem?”
They’re both about the same height, but I’m certain that if this became physical, Jake would rip my skinny neighbor to shreds. And I wouldn’t want Jake to get in trouble for something like that.
My neighbor casts an unfriendly glance in my direction. “I don’t got any problems, man.”
Maintaining my grip on Gary’s collar, I venture into the hallway, letting the door close behind me so I can position myself and my dog between Jake and the creepy guy. But this only excites Gary and, as if he too is emboldened by Jake’s presence, my docile old man begins barking.
My neighbor doesn’t appreciate it, sneering at Gary the way he usually does.
“He’s supposed to be on a leash,” he remarks, then he turns around and heads toward the stairs.
“How about you mind your fucking business?” Jake calls after him.
Jake’s voice is calm, almost playful, as if he’s daring him to say or try something.
My neighbor stops in the middle of the corridor and turns around. “Yeah, we’ll see about that.”
Jake closes the distance between them in a few strides and my neighbor appears afraid as he takes a few steps back, bumping into the wall behind him.
“We’ll see about what?” Jake says, getting in his face. “Is that a threat? Are you threatening her?”
My heart is pounding out of my chest as I’m frozen in place.
“I’m not threatening her, but she needs to keep that dog on a leash. It’s the building rules,” my neighbor says, his words tumbling out fast as he repeatedly glances in my direction, as if he’s silently pleading with me to intervene.
My body breaks out of freeze-mode and moves into fight-mode as I open the door and push Gary inside.
“You know I never have Gary off-leash,” I say to my neighbor, then I make my way to Jake and carefully place a hand on his arm. “He can’t actually make a complaint.”
Jake’s chest rises and falls heavily as he continues to stare at my neighbor. “Are you going to leave her alone?”
“I won’t make a complaint.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Jake says, his tone low and deadly now. “I asked if you’re going to leave her alone.”
My neighbor glances at me and nods.
Jake’s fists are clenched at his sides as he steps back and nods toward the stairs. “Leave.”
My neighbor wastes no time disappearing down the stairwell. When I can no longer hear his footsteps, I look up at Jake. His eyes are fixed on the stairwell as the rise and fall of his chest slows. After a moment, he turns to me and his face is a mixture of emotions, some of which I can’t discern. But I definitely recognize regret and anger.
“I hope I didn’t scare you. It just pisses me off when guys try to intimidate women for just existing.”
“That’s a pretty accurate description of my relationship with that neighbor.”
He looks concerned now. “How long has he been harassing you?”
“I wouldn’t exactly call it harassment, but—”
“It’s harassment. That guy has creeper written all over his fucking face.”
I pause as I consider whether I should downplay how much I agree with his assessment. “It’s only been a couple of times that he’s made me feel uncomfortable. But I’m sure he’ll think twice about it now.”
“A couple of times is twice too many. If he says or does anything again, you need to come to me.”
“I’ll just tell management about it.”
Jake shakes his head, and his eyes are filled with a blazing need for me to understand him. “No, you don’t understand. They won’t do anything. He pays rent just like you, and they always give these creeps the benefit of the doubt. You come to me. You understand?”
I nod, almost afraid to disagree with him. “I do. And I will. I’ll tell you if he does anything else.”
He heaves a deep sigh of relief. “Fuck. I should get going. But I’m definitely going to text you later.”
He grabs my face and kisses my forehead before pulling me into a tight hug. I bury my face in his chest as I wrap my arms around his waist.
“I don’t want you to be scared,” he says, kissing the top of my head before he lets go of me.
“I’m not,” I assure him.
He nods, but he doesn’t seem convinced.
“Lock your door,” he says, flashing me a guarded smile as he turns to leave.
As he descends the stairs, I wonder why that entire encounter felt strange to me. It isn’t until I’m back inside, and running the dog brush through Gary’s fur, that I’m finally able to put my finger on it.
Jake seems to feel my neighbor presents more of a danger to me than I do. Is this because men are better able to sense another man’s ill intentions? Or is Jake one of those volatile guys who can never resist the opportunity for a confrontation?
I shake my head at this thought as Gary rolls onto his back to discourage me from brushing his fur.
I recall how Jake helped me with Gary today. I don’t think he’s the type of guy who goes looking for a fight. He seems more like the guy who goes looking for someone to save. But this could be because his father was a literal hero who flew around in a helicopter rescuing people.
Whatever it is, I think what matters most is that I feel safe with him. Whether I know him enough to justify those feelings is a chance every woman—and man—takes when starting a new relationship. I hope this safe feeling lasts.
After I’m done grooming Gary, and I’ve settled down into bed around midnight, my phone buzzes on my nightstand.
Jake: Are you safe in bed?
I reply with a selfie of just my face and the covers tucked under my chin.
Jake: What do you have on underneath those blankets?
I hesitate as I consider sending him a picture of my black panties and bare breasts, but I decide against it as I remember his comment about patience.
Me: Just a T-shirt and panties.
Jake: What kind of T-shirt?
Me: Actually, I’m not wearing a shirt.
Jake: And you sent me a pic of your covers pulled up to your chin?
Me: I didn’t want to get you too excited.
Jake: Good call. Just the thought of it has me dangerously close to hopping in my truck and heading straight over there.
Me: In that case, I lied about the underwear too.
Jake: I want you to touch yourself tonight. And I want you to imagine it’s my mouth on you while you do it.
Me: Okay. Anything else you want me to do?
Jake: I want you to come to the bar this weekend and meet my friends.
I stare wide-eyed at the text message as I try to think of a response.
Me: Are you sure?
Jake: I’m positive. I’ll pick you up Saturday at 9:30. Cool?
I bite my lip as a million questions mingle in my mind. Is this too fast? Is this a test? Do I actually want to do this?
My muscles warm as I remind myself I have a gorgeous man who wants to protect me and support me. And he’s considering making me a part of his life.
My body relaxes into the mattress and an uncontrollable grin spreads across my face. The cocktail of emotions I’m feeling right now is exactly what I needed when I walked into Jake’s bar four months ago. It took him a few tries, but he finally got it right.
Me: Cool.
Jake: Goodnight, baby.
Me: Goodnight, 007.
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Author Cassia Leo
About the Author New York Times bestselling author Cassia Leo loves her coffee, chocolate, and margaritas with salt. When she’s not writing, she spends way too much time re-watching Game of Thrones and Sex and the City. When she’s not binge watching, she’s usually enjoying the Oregon rain with a hot cup of coffee and a book.
Welcome to the book blitz for ROYAL TROUBLE, the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, Royally Engaged, by Jennifer Bonds. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
ROYAL TROUBLE (Royally Engaged Series #2) by Jennifer Bonds
Synopsis It’s time for everyone’s favorite bad boy, Prince Alexander Stanley, to clean up his act. Given the rare opportunity to lead a new royal program that aids veterans and their families, Xander can’t afford to be making scandalous headlines anymore. He has only two months until the program launches. No more overindulging. And definitely no more women.
Then halfway into it, his good behavior streak is threatened by a devil in a fuchsia dress.
Everly Wilson has kept a secret for years. She was the mastermind behind the celebrity dirt website Royals Gone Wild, which exposed some of her home country of Valeria’s juiciest secrets. But once she was out of school, she left the website and her past behind, moved to New York, and became a serious writer.
A seriously broke writer. If she doesn’t find a fresh story to earn her top dollar, she’ll be out on the street, with nothing but her laptop and a stack of unpaid medical bills to keep her warm at night.
But when a friend’s wedding brings her back home, it seems like the fates have aligned to deliver her the scoop of the year. Prince Alexander is suddenly on a mission to clean up his act, avoiding the escapades he once embraced—and she’s determined to be the one to catch his inevitable screwup. So when things between them start to heat up, and Xander’s walls start coming down, Everly might be the one royally in trouble this time…
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Excerpt #2 He flashed a grin. “Turns out I’m a fine athletic specimen, and believe it or not, some people actually find me charming.”
“Because charm is so high on the list of requirements for serving in the military.” She rolled her eyes. This fucking guy. “Honestly, it’s like you can’t go five minutes without complimenting yourself.”
And still, he was melting her defenses with self-deprecating humor and naked vulnerability.
Xander winked as the barkeep delivered fresh pints and scooped up their empty glasses. “Just trying to point out some of my finer qualities, since you seem impervious to said charm.”
Everly laughed in spite of herself. “Alright, hot shot. You want to show off your athletic prowess? We’ll make a game of it.”
“What do you have in mind?” he asked, his voice taking on a seductive edge that had her considering other games they might play.
Down girl.
“Grab a bottle of vodka from the bar and meet me at the dartboard.”
She hopped to her feet and swaggered toward the back of the bar, swaying her hips more than was strictly necessary. She considered herself a feminist, but with the stakes this high, she wasn’t above deploying every weapon in her arsenal. She hadn’t thrown a dart since her college days, so this was pretty much going to be the best idea ever or a colossal disaster.
Focus on the goal.
Right. Get Xander drunk. Get the story. Get the hell out of town.
Easy peasy.
She was so busy formulating a game plan and gathering darts that she didn’t notice Xander’s return until he spoke.
“What are we playing?” he asked, slipping behind her to place the bottle and glasses on the table. His breath was a warm caress against her cheek, and he was so close she could smell his crisp outdoorsy scent mixed with a hint of sweat from the polo match. The muscles of his back rippled under the thin white polo shirt as he opened the bottle and poured two shots.
He was fully clothed, but damn if it didn’t feel like a thirst trap.
Everly cleared her throat. Lord, she needed a drink. “Cricket. We’ll throw to see who goes first. Loser takes a shot. Anytime a number is closed out, loser takes two shots.”
Xander looked her over from head to toe and lifted a brow. “You sure you can handle this?”
“Can you?” she fired back, planting a hand on her hip.
“There’s nothing I can’t handle, love.”
She didn’t doubt it. Despite all the shit Xander had weathered in the media, he somehow managed to roll with it, remaining light and jovial. She could probably stand to take a page from his book.
He gestured to the board. “Ladies first.”
Everly moved to the throwing line and relaxed her breathing.
It’s all in the wrist.
She gripped the dart firmly but gently between three fingers as she drew her arm up to aim, putting most of her weight on her right foot. She needed the advantage of going first, but she wasn’t quite ready to tip her hand yet. Not a bullseye, then. She’d aim for the outer bull and hope Xander went for the bullseye and missed. Given his enormous ego, it was likely, but if he went for a double or triple ring, she’d be screwed.
About the Author Jennifer Bonds writes sizzling contemporary romance with sassy heroines, sexy alphas, and a whole lot of mischief. She’s a sucker for enemies-to-lovers stories, laugh-out-loud banter, and over-the-top grand gestures. Jennifer lives in Pennsylvania, where her overactive imagination and weakness for reality TV keep life interesting. She’s lucky enough to live with her own real-life hero, two adorable (and sometimes crazy) children, and one rambunctious K9. Loves Buffy, Mexican food, a solid Netflix binge, the Winchester brothers, cupcakes, and all things zombie. Sings off-key.
To connect with Jen online, visit http://www.jenniferbonds.com or find her on Facebook and Instagram @jbondswrites.
Welcome to the book blitz for TRAPPED WITH THE UNDERCOVER PRINCE, the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, Trapped With Him, by Julie Rowe. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
TRAPPED WITH THE UNDERCOVER PRINCE (Trapped With Him Series #2) by Julie Rowe
Probably because I have a PhD in astrophysics and am on the cusp of publishing a theory that just might change our perception of the known universe.
The verdict, however, is still out for me.
After all, I fell for a colleague who broke my heart and then stole the grant money from the Camella Franklin Foundation that had been funding my research. Did I mention he’s also engaged to Camella Franklin?
Then the gorgeous and charming billionaire Colin Fitzgerald came to me with a proposal that might just change my life.
A marriage in name only in return for the grant money needed to fund my research.
Marrying a hot billionaire wouldn’t be so bad, right?
Except that from the moment I laid eyes on the guy, it felt like the stars had aligned and I had actually met my destiny. He, on the other hand, had been totally in love with my best friend.
But, as people say, I’m smart. I wouldn’t do anything so foolish as to fall in love with my fake husband.
Like I said…the verdict is still out.
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Excerpt #2 Prince Zarius Valentin of Lerasia wasn’t in the mood for excuses. Not after the bomb he and his team had been looking for had exploded, destroying a train full of people.
Their intelligence had arrived too late. Again.
“We need advanced medical help for a large number of accident victims, including ambulances, fire suppression teams, and volunteers to move fallen debris,” Zar said to the operator at the local SAMU—Service d’Aide Médicale Urgente (Urgent Medical Aid Service). “I’m assisting a woman who is pregnant, trapped by debris, and has just gone into labor.”
The woman on the other end of the call went silent, but he could hear the clicking of someone typing fast on a keyboard.
“Assistance is on the way,” she said, her tone no different than when she’d answered his call. “Highest priority. Do you need verbal medical advice to help the accident victim?”
“No, a doctor who happened to be on the scene is caring for her.” A doctor like none he’d ever met before. This one had auburn hair pulled back in a messy bun on the top of her head, leaving only a few long, curling strands to hint at the riot it would become if she let it fall loose. She wore jeans, a plain blue T-shirt, and hiking boots and had the kind of curves a man wanted to explore slowly and with great attention to detail.
It was her smile that caught his attention first. He’d looked up from the briefing his second in command was making as she’d entered his peripheral vision at a trot. Her gaze had been direct and filled with amusement. Once their eyes connected, she’d blushed and looked away.
She looked so damned fresh and innocent. Something he hadn’t seen outside of small children, yet there were no hidden emotions on her face. None of the avarice, calculation, or lust he often saw on the faces of women who knew who he was.
He ended the call as two of his men slid through the crumpled doorway.
“Sir,” Jean Paul Travers, his chief of security, said. His gaze went to Anna as she knelt beside the trapped woman, and he frowned.
Anna pulled a stethoscope out of a side pocket of her pack and used it to listen to the pregnant woman’s heart.
“Anna—”
She put up a hand, the gesture certain and confident, and Zar stopped talking. No naivete now. She’d just turned into a field marshal directing her troops.
That was almost as attractive as her riotous hair.
About the Author Julie Rowe’s first career as a medical lab technologist in Canada took her to the North West Territories and northern Alberta, where she still resides. She loves to include medical details in her romance novels, but admits she’ll never be able to write about all her medical experiences because, “No one would believe them!” A double Golden Heart finalist 2006, Julie’s writing has appeared in several magazines such as Today’s Parent, Reader’s Digest (Canada), and Canadian Living. She currently facilitates communication workshops for her local city college. Julie enjoys hearing from her readers. You can reach her at www.julieroweauthor.com or on Twitter @julieroweauthor.
Author Jay Hogan is revealing the cover to YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED, the fifth book in the adult contemporary romance series, Auckland Med Wedding, releasing June 17, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book, and preorder links.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED (Auckland Med Wedding Series #5) by Jay Hogan
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title:YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED Series: Auckland Med Wedding Series #5
Author: Jay Hogan
Release Date: June 17, 2021
Genre: Adult Contemporary LGBTQ+ Romance
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
Synopsis There’s a wedding in the air at Auckland Med, but Reuben wonders if they’ll survive the stress long enough to say, ‘I do’. Cam is directing the entire operation with his combat eyeliner in place, whilst the wedding party is doing its best to ignore him. The pressure is mounting and the cracks are beginning to show.
There’s a bachelor party to survive.
The paparazzi to outrun.
A wedding outfit to confirm.
A rugby game to win.
A jerk of a father to cope with.
A stunning opportunity to consider.
A relationship to untangle.
And a shocking event that could derail everything.
With the universe conspiring against them, Reuben and Cam will have to summon every scrap of belief they have in each other to make it to their vows.
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Author Jay Hogan
About the Author I am a New Zealand author writing in m/m romance, and romantic suspense. I have traveled extensively and lived in the US, Canada, France, Australia and South Korea. In a past life I have been an Intensive Care Nurse, Counselor, and a Nursing Lecturer.
I’m a cat aficionado especially of Maine Coons, and an avid dog lover (but don’t tell the cat). I love to cook, pretty damn good, love to sing, pretty damn average, and as for loving full-time writing, absolutely… depending of course on the day, the word count, the deadline, how obliging my characters are, the ambient temperature in the Western Sahara, whether Jupiter is rising, the size of the ozone hole over New Zealand and how much coffee I’ve had.
Welcome to the book blitz for HOW NOT TO MARRY A FAKE BILLIONAIRE, the second book in the adult contemporary romantic comedy series, How Not to Marry a Billionaire, by USA Today bestselling author Ashlee Mallory. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
HOW NOT TO MARRY A FAKE BILLIONAIRE (How Not to Marry a Billionaire Series #2) by Ashlee Mallory
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: HOW NOT TO MARRY A FAKE BILLIONAIRE Series: How Not to Marry a Billionaire Series #2 Author: Ashlee Mallory Release Date: May 17, 2021
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
Synopsis People say I’m smart.
Probably because I have a PhD in astrophysics and am on the cusp of publishing a theory that just might change our perception of the known universe.
The verdict, however, is still out for me.
After all, I fell for a colleague who broke my heart and then stole the grant money from the Camella Franklin Foundation that had been funding my research. Did I mention he’s also engaged to Camella Franklin?
Then the gorgeous and charming billionaire Colin Fitzgerald came to me with a proposal that might just change my life.
A marriage in name only in return for the grant money needed to fund my research.
Marrying a hot billionaire wouldn’t be so bad, right?
Except that from the moment I laid eyes on the guy, it felt like the stars had aligned and I had actually met my destiny. He, on the other hand, had been totally in love with my best friend.
But, as people say, I’m smart. I wouldn’t do anything so foolish as to fall in love with my fake husband.
Like I said…the verdict is still out.
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Excerpt “Are you having a party?” he asked, sounding equally stunned and impressed.
“I felt that it was a shame for Holly to miss out on her bachelorette party, so I threw this together,” Katrina said.
“Without my knowledge,” I added in case he was getting the impression I was something of a party girl.
“I’m sure it was,” he said. “Ladies, I’m deeply grateful that you’ve given my beautiful new bride a much deserved soiree.”
“Aww,” a few echoed as they stood smiling at the two of us, almost as if waiting for something more.
Colin was a bit quicker as he came to my side, wrapping an arm around my waist. He flipped the feathers of my boa and smiled at me. “I like this look. You definitely should wear it more.”
He couldn’t look at me like that, all warm and happy to see me. It was making my stomach twist into all kinds of knots.
Especially as everyone was still staring at us.
“Oh, go on, you two. Kiss each other already. You know you want to. Probably as much as we want to see it,” Katrina added gleefully.
Why was I friends with Katrina again?
“Come on. Don’t disappoint us,” Julia followed.
“Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss,” became the new drunken rallying cry as my former friends chanted, pumping their hands in unison.
“It seems to be the consensus of the room that we kiss,” he said low enough that only I could hear him.
“We probably should get it over with,” I whispered back, glancing nervously over my shoulders at the chanters.
“As you wish,” he said, and highly aware of our audience’s attention, he tightened his hold on my waist and brought me soundly against him before pressing those beautiful lips against mine.
All the air in my lungs escaped me while I reeled from the feeling of his mouth on mine, from the taste of him, so dangerously dark and masculine, from his heady scent of leather and spice that wrapped around me as tightly as his arm. My eyes fluttered shut, permanently branding this moment forever on my brain.
I was so caught up in the feeling of this magical kiss that I almost managed to block out the hollers and screams of the women, who were sounding quite pleased with our performance. But the sound of a doorbell ringing, and then ringing again, was too much to ignore, and I reluctantly opened my eyes to find Colin staring intently at me, his usual smile gone.
“I probably should go get the door,” I said and pulled away from him, already missing the warmth of his body. His mouth. His everything.
“No. Wait,” Katrina said, heading me off as I was almost at the front door. “It’s probably just my final present for you. Go ahead and take a seat.”
The front door was blocked off from our view as we trailed into the living room and waited as Katrina greeted our late arrivals.
Two police officers in dark clothing came around the corner and my stomach dropped in fear. “Sorry, but we had a noise complaint from one of your neighbors,” the shorter of the two said.
Colin stepped forward. “We’re terribly sorry, officers. We’d be happy to—”
But two things happened at the same time that stopped him mid-sentence.
One, the Beyoncé song that had been playing before was replaced with a darker, more overtly sexy song that I immediately recognized as “Candy Shop,” a song that Katrina played constantly in the car and knew pretty much every word to.
Second—and more alarming—was the sight of both cops unbuttoning their shirts.
My mouth dropped open. No. Freaking. Way.
The drunken catcalls from my usually austere and quiet coworkers were immediate as they retrieved dollars from their jackets and purses, obviously in on the surprise.
But the attention of one cop in particular was on me—no thanks to the bright pink tiara and boa proclaiming me the bride—and he slowly grinded his way over, and before I could blink, he whipped his pants off, dressed now in the tiniest black G-string that didn’t leave anything to the imagination.
Flames of embarrassment torched my face as I fought the urge to hide under a couch cushion.
Katrina was dead meat.
“And with that, I believe I’ll retire for the night and leave you all to your fun,” Colin said, stepping away. “Good night, ladies. Good night, Holly,” he added before winking at me, then left the room.
Correct that. Katrina was not just dead meat. She was roadkill that I ran over and backed up and hit two more times before skinning her and feeding her to the wolves dead meat.
About the Author Ashlee Mallory is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and thrillers. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and two kids. She aspires to one day include running, hiking and traveling to exotic destinations in her list of things she enjoys, but currently settles for enjoying a good book and a glass of wine from the comfort of her couch.
Keep up with all upcoming releases by following me here, or joining my Newsletter at http://bit.ly/1lPwwE3 for updates and giveaways!
Welcome to the blog tour for ROCK HARD, the first book in the adult contemporary rock star romance series, Chord Brothers, by M.J. Roberts. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive excerpt.
ROCK HARD (Chord Brothers Series #1) by M.J. Roberts
Synopsis Drummer Ryder Chord has been living half a life since he was sixteen when a brutal tragedy strikes his family and he and his best friend hit the road. Ryder, desperate to forget, throws himself into touring life and writing music. When Lexi joins the band, Ryder’s life becomes almost tolerable. Until one day when the rest of the band isn’t there and Ryder and Lexi have to share a hotel room: with only one bed.
Rule number one of band-dom: You never sleep with anyone in the band.
Rule number one of bro code: You never sleep with anyone’s sister. You definitely never sleep with your best friend’s little sister.
Rule number it’s so obvious it’s a count even a drummer can keep: You Never. Ever. Sleep with your best friend’s little sister when she’s in the band…and he is too.
** “A moving, funny, white-hot sexy romp that fans of Lauren Blakely, Nora Roberts, and Janet Evanovich will love.” – Smart Woman’s Steamy Romance Reviews.
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Excerpt At about 2:19 a.m. I finally fall asleep. At around 3:30 there’s a soft knock on my door. I’m fully awake in an instant. Remembering how Lexi needed me when water was dripping on her head, I jump up, run to the door and throw it open.
“Lexi, what’s wrong!” I put my hands on the side of her face. I search her expression, which seems, I don’t know, slightly scared, worried. Which makes me worried.
“Lexi, what is it?” I ask.
But she doesn’t say anything. She just stares up at me. She’s wearing a short, silk burgundy-colored robe I’ve never seen before.
“Lexi, what is it?” I ask again. “What do you need?”
“You,” she says.
I blink. I stare down at her, and my brain refuses to understand. My tongue plasters to the roof of my mouth. Lexi reaches up and touches my biceps, and the spell that has me frozen is temporarily broken.
“Ryder? Ryder, say something.”
I blink again.
“Lexi. I’m not sure what you mean. I’m right here.”
Her voice is soft. So soft I have to bend down a little to hear her. I’ve been playing drums long enough that I have a bit of hearing loss.
“I can’t sleep without you. I haven’t been able to sleep since Detroit.”
I straighten up. “Sure you have,” I say like an idiot. “You don’t toss and turn. You don’t get up.” I think of myself, the hours I spend staring at the ceiling of my own bunk.
“But I don’t really sleep, not well. Not deep sleep. Not like I slept when I was with you.”
Lexi takes a step closer, and the smell of bursting orange blossoms wafts up.
“Ryder…” she says softly.
She opens the sash of her robe, and it reveals a mostly see-through, burgundy-tinted babydoll nightgown that barely reaches the top of her thighs.
Fuuuuuuck.
I groan.
“Lexi, we can’t.”
She closes that last inch between us and plants a tiny kiss on my chest. The barest of touches.
And I snap.
I grab her, haul her up my body, and smash our lips together. In two giants steps I’ve got her pressed against the wall, her legs wrapped around me, all the pent-up need and want I’ve been so good at keeping caged in, tethered, is pulsing out into her. I fist her hair, tilt her head, and plunder her mouth.
Fuck. God. She tastes so good. Incredible. God. Fuck.
“Lex…” I say as I break away.
“More,” she breathes.
“We shouldn’t,” I manage.
“Right,” she says, but then she kisses me again, and fuck, I don’t give a damn, because, yes, this is Lexi, and all I can think about is tasting her again, more, yes. How soft her tongue is and how out of control I am. I carry her to the bed and part of me tries to reel it in, take it slow, but I don’t want to. Not even a little.
I want to devour her. Every single inch.
Lexi. My Lexi.
Yes.
Then I’m on top of her and nothing has ever felt more right in the whole world. The blood is pounding in my ears, and I kiss down her neck and then my hands are on her breasts, God, her breasts. I can’t think, everything becomes a haze of pure lust, heat, a throbbing sound of need, the contrast between hard and soft, and the perfection of our rhythm together.
I manage to break for a second. “Lex, are you sure?”
“So sure.”
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Author M.J. Roberts
About the Author M. J. Roberts is a writer, editor, and teacher – with more than two million copies of her stories in circulation worldwide, Roberts is well loved for creating characters who feel as real as your most cherished friends. Roberts works to diligently to create believable, lovable characters, witty dialogue, prose ripe with metaphor, exciting plot twists, action that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and romance scenes that sizzle.
Roberts is a multiple award-winning author including first place in the prestigious Summer Lovin’ Romance Literary Contest 2015 for the novel Risk Your Heart.
Roberts also writes under the pen name Natasha Action. Roberts is originally from New York but lives in the southern United States for the purpose of endless comic material.
She’s married to a professional musician (A.K.A. The Rock and Roll God) because she is too busy tormenting imaginary characters and counting her blessing to pursue her longtime dream of Rock n’ Roll stardom herself.
Welcome to the book blitz for SEDITION, the first book in the young adult steampunk series, Children of Erikkson, by E.M. Wright. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
SEDITION (Children of Erikkson Series #1) by E.M. Wright
Synopsis She was created for more than slavery; she was built for rebellion.
In an alternate Victorian England, clockwork cyborgs provide the primary source of labor for the upper class. Known as biomatons, they are property by law and have been manipulated and mind-controlled into subservience.
Taryn Roft, a 17-year-old girl, attending classes at Grafton’s School of Mechanicks in London has a secret. What’s even worse—she cannot remember anything before her twelfth birthday.
When a mysterious privateer discovers her secret, he offers her an ultimatum: accompany him to his airship, or her secret will be revealed to everyone. For Taryn, it’s not much of a choice. Facing prejudice and cruelty may be nothing new to the only girl at an all-boys’ school, but the further from home she gets, the darker her situation becomes.
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Author E.M. Wright
About the Author E.M. Wright is an author from Portland, OR. She writes science fiction and fantasy novels set in original worlds.
Welcome to the sales blitz for ROCK HARD, the first book in the adult contemporary rock star romance series, Chord Brothers, by M.J. Roberts. See below for information on the book, buy links, and an exclusive teaser excerpt.
ROCK HARD (Chord Brothers Series #1) by M.J. Roberts
Synopsis Drummer Ryder Chord has been living half a life since he was sixteen when a brutal tragedy strikes his family and he and his best friend hit the road. Ryder, desperate to forget, throws himself into touring life and writing music. When Lexi joins the band, Ryder’s life becomes almost tolerable. Until one day when the rest of the band isn’t there and Ryder and Lexi have to share a hotel room: with only one bed.
Rule number one of band-dom: You never sleep with anyone in the band.
Rule number one of bro code: You never sleep with anyone’s sister. You definitely never sleep with your best friend’s little sister.
Rule number it’s so obvious it’s a count even a drummer can keep: You Never. Ever. Sleep with your best friend’s little sister when she’s in the band…and he is too.
** “A moving, funny, white-hot sexy romp that fans of Lauren Blakely, Nora Roberts, and Janet Evanovich will love.” – Smart Woman’s Steamy Romance Reviews.
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Author M.J. Roberts
About the Author M. J. Roberts is a writer, editor, and teacher – with more than two million copies of her stories in circulation worldwide, Roberts is well loved for creating characters who feel as real as your most cherished friends. Roberts works to diligently to create believable, lovable characters, witty dialogue, prose ripe with metaphor, exciting plot twists, action that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and romance scenes that sizzle.
Roberts is a multiple award-winning author including first place in the prestigious Summer Lovin’ Romance Literary Contest 2015 for the novel Risk Your Heart.
Roberts also writes under the pen name Natasha Action. Roberts is originally from New York but lives in the southern United States for the purpose of endless comic material.
She’s married to a professional musician (A.K.A. The Rock and Roll God) because she is too busy tormenting imaginary characters and counting her blessing to pursue her longtime dream of Rock n’ Roll stardom herself.
Author Christine Brae is revealing the cover to THE LIGHT IN THE WOUND, the first book in the adult contemporary romance/women’s fiction series, The Light in the Wound, releasing September 1, 2021. See below for the cover, information on the book, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
THE LIGHT IN THE WOUND (The Light in the Wound Series #1) by Christine Brae
About the Book Title: THE LIGHT IN THE WOUND
Author: Christine Brae
Publisher: Vesuvian Books
Release Date: September 1, 2021
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance/Women’s Fiction
Links: Goodreads
Synopsis “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” ~Rumi
Affected by her parents’ highly publicized divorce, Isabel Amarra grows up isolated and alone, vowing to never repeat their mistakes. But when Jesse Cain enters her life, Isabel falls hopelessly in love with him. Every sadness she’s ever felt is washed away by his intensity and passion.
As time goes by and Isabel leaves her teenage years behind, her needs and perspectives change. Then she meets Alex Ailey, who shows her a love that is selfless and freeing.
Despite everything, Isabel fights to stay with Jesse, determined to hold on to what they once had—until she can no longer deny her true feelings.
But if Isabel lets go, can a second love ever be enough to make her forget her first.
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Author Christine Brae
About the Author Christine Brae is a full time career woman who thought she could write a book about her life and then run away as far as possible from it. She never imagined that her words would touch the hearts of so many women with the same story to tell. Her second book, His Wounded Light was released in December, 2013.
Christine’s third book, Insipid, is a standalone that was released in June, 2014, and her fourth book, In This Life, released in January 2016.
When not listening to the voices in her head or spending late nights at the office, Christine can be seen shopping for shoes and purses, running a half marathon or spending time with her husband and three children in Chicago.
Christine is represented by Italia Gandolfo of Gandolfo Helin Literary Management.
