Welcome to the book blitz for THE DAREDEVIL, the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, WaterFyre Rising, by Nadia Han. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
THE DAREDEVIL (WaterFyre Rising Series #2) by Nadia Han
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: THE DAREDEVIL Series: WaterFyre Rising Series #2 Author:Nadia Han Release Date: November 30, 2022
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Loving her is his biggest risk . . . and also his biggest reward.
Daring, clever, and gorgeous, Royce Viktorsson is a volcanologist who lives life on the edge between the thrill and the pulsing calm before the storm. His unsteady lifestyle masks the man who is seeking to heal the hole in his heart. Nothing has offered him resolve . . . until her.
The lightning that illuminates his soul.
The thunder that stirs his heart.
The lava that ignites his blood.
Thoughtful, alluring, and guarded, travel blogger Michelle Yates is emotionally unavailable thanks to the monster in her closet. Traveling allows her to see the beauty in the world, making her forget the ugliness in her life. One man yanks on that closet door and helps her claim back her self-worth.
The friend who becomes her lover.
The hero who defeats her monster.
The savior who defines her destiny.
As their romance churns, danger erupts, whipping out secrets that demand the truth, but the daredevil is willing to risk everything to defend those important to him.
The Daredevil is a friends-to-lovers, fake-dating, forced proximity, destined moments, billionaire hero, and a suspenseful contemporary romance. It is Book Two in the WaterFyre Rising series but can be read as a standalone.
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Excerpt: In a blink, he pounced on me, pushing me back onto the couch with his body covering mine. He gripped my wrists and lifted them above my head. Heat spread all over my body as I sensed the bulge pressing into me.
“You cheated, and that calls for a punishment.” His eyes pinned me, while a mischievous smirk slid onto his face.
“I didn’t cheat,” I breathed as my nipples pebbled under my thin bra. “There weren’t any rules about fake injuries. I just maneuvered around you.”
“You manipulated my concern for you. We’re going to set hard rules for next time.” He shifted his body, pushing one of my thighs up with one hand while still gripping my wrists with the other. I was at his mercy, and there was something sexy about that.
“Not my intention—”
His hand ran over my thigh and squeezed my buttock. “Oh, it was your intention, just like this is my intention.” His free hand slipped under my ass, pushing my core into his hard cock.
I let out a moan as his cock throbbed against me, trying to punish me with need. God, I wanted him so badly. Grinding my hips against him, I studied his face.
He growled with satisfaction. Did he realize we were starting a new game?
“I should’ve known you’re a she-devil. All this wild hair and the wicked glint in your eyes should have given me a clue.” He pressed his face into my hair and inhaled. “I love the way you smell.”
The need to touch and feel him surged in me. With my legs, I squeezed his ass, making my claim. “A she-devil is the perfect match for a daredevil, don’t you think?”
“You’re driving me crazy, Michelle. What game are we playing now? How to seduce Royce?”
How had he known? A wild guess? It didn’t matter.
His eyes had darkened to a gorgeous mossy color. “Seduce away, angel. You know how to turn me on.”
Royce swallowed, and the movement of his Adam’s apple increased the need in me. I’d always considered a man’s shoulders to be the feature I couldn’t resist, but right now, his Adam’s apple became the switch that lit me up.
I pressed my lips to the masculine bump on his throat and kissed it.
He crooned. “I’ll accept this defeat.”
“Willingly? You had no choice. You lost.” My voice vibrated against his throat.
He veered back, creating a slight distance between my lips. “I love that you wanted to win so badly.”
I needed to win because I wanted to know what he feared. That desire trumped everything else. “I like to win.”
“So do I.” His eyes flashed with heat. “Since l lost, I have to either answer a tough question or do something that frightens me.” His body shifted, opening my thighs wider, not acting like someone who had been defeated.
About the Author Nadia Han is a dreamer, a visionary, and a believer in karma and kindness. She lives in New England with her family and spends most of her time crafting stories. When she’s not writing, she practices yoga, reads, explores nature, and eats all kinds of foods.
Welcome to the blog tour for ILLUMINATED, a standalone young adult, coming-of-age, fantasy thriller, by Iris Marsh. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on their giveaway.
Synopsis In this coming-of-age YA contemporary fantasy, a teenage girl has her life turned upside down when her family is breaking apart, and she discovers her supernatural powers. There’s no time to deal with it, however, as she’s targeted by a dangerous power-siphoner.
Nikki Chase, a 16-year-old striver, feels like her life is falling apart around her. Her parents’ marriage seems in trouble, her best friend prefers to spend time with the popular girl, and she’s quite certain she’s on the verge of a psychosis. After all, normal people don’t see colors around people or hear voices, right?
When a volunteering assignment leads her to a mental hospital, Nikki is determined to figure out what’s going on with her—and if perhaps she belongs in that facility. What she discovers is nothing she expected: Lorene, a volunteer, tells Nikki she’s not crazy but, in fact, has the power to influence people’s thoughts and beliefs. However, someone has been sucking the power out of people just like her, leaving them behind as an empty shell. Desperate for help and someone to trust, Nikki teams up with Lorene to discover who is behind the siphoning. But can she stop them before she becomes a victim? And can she do so without becoming addicted to the power herself?
Fans of suspenseful contemporary fantasy will love this YA coming-of-age fantasy thriller book about coping with difficult emotions, navigating relationships with family and friends, and the addictive quality of power.
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Excerpt #1 I need more time.
Molly stared out of the window, a finger tapping on her kitchen table, the TV on only to provide background noise to drown out the silence. Only a sliver of the moon was visible through the dense clouds. The darkness was pressing. She could almost feel the pressure in the air like a storm brewing.
She eyed the sizeable antique clock standing against the wall, an old family heirloom, the cast corners faded and chipped.
Midnight.
The witching hour.
She snorted—it wasn’t far off. Granted, what she could do wasn’t exactly witchcraft, but it certainly came close.
Scraping her chair back, she stood up, her legs feeling too restless, too agitated, too much like a wind-up feather ready to uncoil.
She needed more time.
Images flashed through her mind as if she was fast-forwarding a show on TV. All the times she’d failed her mentor… All the times she’d been punished, given those sickening sensations of despair, pain, and darkness. Always that suppressing darkness.
Molly walked to her kitchen, grabbed a half-empty bottle of red wine, filled half her tea mug, and took a swig. The warmth and slightly tangy flavor rolled over her tongue and into her throat, an aroma of earth and fruit surrounding her like a comforting blanket on a chilly day.
Her nerves settled a little. Good. Another sip.
Ding-dong.
Time was up.
Molly jumped, a splash of the red wine falling on her burgundy blouse. Cursing, she walked to the door; she’d have to remember to clean it with some soda later.
She opened the door and shivered, both from the cold wind and the person standing in front of her.
“Come in,” she said, stepping aside.
The figure in front of her strode past her, not taking off their dark, hooded cloak. There was something wrong with the image; it was pixelated and fuzzy, like a picture taken with the wrong settings. Try as she might, Molly couldn’t get a clear image of the figure in front of her.
How was that possible?
“Some wine?” Molly asked.
In her hand, the wine trembled. She put the glass on the table, her knuckles turning white.
“Yes, thank you,” the figure answered in an equally distorted voice.
It was almost as if she was watching one of those legal shows, where they blurred the face and distorted the voice.
But why? Why wasn’t she allowed to look at her mentor? Was this a dream after all?
Molly returned to the kitchen, fetched a crystal wineglass—the only expensive one she owned—and poured the red liquid until just underneath the bulge of the glass. Walking back, she placed it in front of the figure, immediately pulling her hands away and wrapping them around her mug.
“Did you get the documents?” the figure asked.
Molly swallowed and closed her eyes briefly. “Almost.” Her voice cracked.
“Meaning?”
Molly’s palms started sweating. “I retraced them back to the Romero’s. I only need to identify the correct family—find out what last name they have now. They’ll have the ritual.”
“Hm. Romero, eh?” The figure took a sip of the wine. “I suppose that’s something. But we’re starting to run out of time. I needed those papers yesterday.”
The darkness circled and slithered around Molly, surrounding her—big, sticky, and oily. It weighed on her, even with her mental barriers up. With her mentor, mental barriers were pretty useless, anyway. How often had she tried to keep the darkness out and actually succeeded?
Not once.
“I know, I’m sorry.” Molly looked down, scratching the back of her hand.
“I know you are.”
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Author Iris Marsh
About the Author Iris Marsh is a behavioral researcher turned writer. As such, she focuses on her character’s journeys as well as the plot. Her YA fantasy debut novel Illuminated is no exception: it’s both suspenseful and heavy on character development. Currently, she lives in the Netherlands with her partner and cat.
She would be overjoyed if you visited her website IrisMarsh.com and would love it if you followed her journey on Instagram.
Welcome to the book blitz for HUNTED, the first book in the young adult paranormal series, Dhampyr, by V.M. Nelson. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Tasi, an eighteen-year-old, head-strong, blood-drinking, dhampyr, has been hidden away in a small town in Maine since the death of her parents. Though she had trained to fight and kill vampires, she never believed those skills would be useful in her mundane life. That’s where she’s wrong.
In one moment, her life changes forever, and her aunt’s final words ring in her head.
They want your blood.
Now orphaned and charged with protecting her sister, Emily—a sister who doesn’t know what they are or that she’s about to endure a life-threatening change—Tasi has no other choice but to follow directions left for her. She is to find an ally who lives in New York City. This is the only way Tasi will figure out why she and Emily are being hunted before they end up drained of their blood.
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Tasi
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Excerpt #2: South Station was bustling with people. The building had high ceilings, lots of shops, and from the aroma swirling through the air, some tasty eateries. Chatter filled the atmosphere, and as we approached the lower platform, horns blared from trains pulling in and out. Announcers over the loudspeaker called out train numbers and destinations. Emily had said little to me all morning, knowing I was still beating myself up over last night. She knew how stubborn I was and that I might snap if provoked. It’s not one of my best attributes. But when I was ready to talk, she would know.
I glanced over at my sister. She gave me a small, knowing smile. Her voice echoed in my head. We’re both alive. I knew I was acting stupid. As long as that was a onetime mistake and I didn’t put Emily at risk again, I had to let it go.
Emily shifted her weight. Her lips were tightly pressed together as she wrinkled and unwrinkled her freckled nose. I bumped her with my elbow, then turned to her, extending my arm. “Hi, I’m Tasi, and I’m done being stupid and feeling sorry for myself.”
She let out a giggle. “Finally.” She ignored my arm and gave me an enormous hug. I leaned my cheek against her forehead. “If I had to sit on a train in silence until we reached New York, I think I would have lost my freaking mind.”
“Yeah, me too.” The tightness in my stomach lifted.
Our embrace ended as they announced our train. We headed for the back and found some empty seats together. The seats were arranged in fours, which could be an issue, depending on who filled the seats facing us. I hoped no one would sit there, or at least would leave us alone if they did.
While we waited, I watched the hordes of people filing onto the train. Some whispering to each other, dressed in casual attire. Others with their suits on, storing briefcases overhead. The murmurs grew louder as more people boarded the train car. My body was tense, and it became hard to separate the oblivious people from the ones who may be threats.
“If we have time, can we go to the giant toy store in Times Square?” Emily asked. “It has an indoor Ferris wheel!”
“Yes, once we find Sonya. I want to make sure we find a place to stay before we start sightseeing.”
“Okay.” She clasped her hands together.
As we continued talking, a girl not much older than me stopped in front of us. Her hair was a thick golden blonde. It was pulled back in a half ponytail, and the curls bounced with her slightest of movements. Her lips were narrow and cheekbones high.
Sickness stirred in my gut, and the hairs on the back of my neck sought refuge.
“Are these two seats open? My friend is running late, which is so typical. It’s hard to find a good traveling partner these days. So annoying.” Her emerald eyes sparkled like gems.
“Sure.” Prickles coated my skin as she eyed me.
She sat down across from Emily. “I like the window seat. I hope you don’t mind.” She directed that to my sister.
“No . . . no, it’s fine.” Emily gave her a small smile and focused back on me. She saw what I had.
Our seats were in a section too close to other travelers for either of us to do anything. We were safe for the time being. However, my first thought was to lead the girl somewhere private so I could kill her.
She sat still as she looked out the window, her flawless complexion hard as stone. Yup, she was one of them, but did she know who we were? The train jerked forward, reminding me we were in this for the long haul. The trip was about four hours; that was four long hours with a filthy vampire sitting across from us. That’s the problem with big cities. These large transportation centers provided enough shelter so vampires could hide out there during the day.
“So, are you guys headed to the city? Business or pleasure?” She studied my eyes, as if waiting for me to stumble or hesitate.
“A little of both.” I showed no fear as I locked my eyes on hers. “You?”
“Business, mostly. I hope my friend made it. It’d be such a shame if he had to catch a later train. Plus, our boss would be really unhappy with him if we screwed up our task.”
Great. I hoped he missed the train, because if it was a friend of hers, I didn’t want to meet him.
Turning to Emily, I noticed her apprehension. She was readying herself for the worst. Part of me wished I hadn’t given her those stakes. Our eyes met, and I hoped she deciphered my visual message to relax. Still feeling a little rebellious, I pressed my luck. “So, what kind of business, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Her ringlets fell off her shoulders as she leaned closer, showing me her venomous fangs. “Pest extermination.” She scowled.
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Emily
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Author V.M. Nelson
About the Author V. M. Nelson is the author of The Dhampyr Series. She writes upper young adult paranormal, urban fantasy with a touch of romance thrown in. When she isn’t writing, you can find her playing video games.
Virginia resides in Minnesota with her partner and three children. She has always had an obsession for myths, legends, and fairytales. If asked, she would prefer to live in an alternate universe with vampires and fairies.
Welcome to the blog tour for THE ENDGAME, a standalone adult contemporary sports romance, by Bianca Borell. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive teaser, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
Synopsis Every girl with a brother grows up with one fundamental rule: his best friend is off limits. That’s one rule she longs to break when he crashes into her life.
Amelie Weston has been taking the safe path for as long as she can remember. Not disappointing her parents by pursuing the career she wants. And not pursuing the guy she’s been crushing on.
But she’s tired of being the good girl.
Her brother’s best friend is pushing her to stop being a people pleaser and open the bakery of her dreams. Little does he know he’s also at the top of the list of her heart’s greatest desires… and he’s making himself impossible to resist.
Levi Kingston fully intends to become a legend on the field as one of the best quarterbacks ever. He must stay focused and work relentlessly toward his goal. He doesn’t have time for distractions… until he meets his best friend’s sister, and his well-laid plan is challenged.
Bad timing, responsibilities, and loyalty to her brother keep them apart. But the connection between them only grows stronger. Their feelings become impossible to ignore, and the fight against them is pointless.
Will they take a chance on love? Or waste an opportunity for long-awaited happiness?
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Author Bianca Borell
About the Author Bianca Borell is a contemporary romance author, voracious reader, nature lover, and unapologetic daydreamer. She spends her nights deciding between getting up to write or trying to silence the voices of her characters. The battle is never-ending.
She has a weakness for tormented characters, second chances, and happy endings.
She currently lives in Germany with her amazing husband and indulges in way too many pastries than she should.
For updates, news, and releases, be sure to visit Bianca’s official website at www.biancaborell.com.
Welcome to the cover reveal for CHILD OF PROPHECY, the third book in the adult fantasy series, Titanlord, by M.G. Darwish, releasing March 7, 2023. See below for information on the book and series and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
CHILD OF PROPHECY (Titanlord Series #3) by M.G. Darwish
About the Book – Preorder Now! Title: CHILD OF PROPHECY Series: Titanland Series #3 Author: M.G. Darwish Genre: Adult Fantasy Release Date: March 7, 2023 Links: Goodreads
Synopsis From the award-winning author of The Long Night, an enthralling novel that will captivate you with tales, myths and legends as it brings an epic conclusion to the Titanlord Series.
“Beware when victors win, as they often become the demons they vanquish.”
Griffyn Haikrou has become Titanlord. Ever since he journeyed from his village with nothing but a sword and a few friends, he has overcome one obstacle and another in pursuit of avenging a world that was doomed to crumble at destined prophecies. He avenged his friends; he mourned, fought, lost, and won.
The sky turned red. For the hour has come.
Now, he must test his mettle against the prophecy that he set out to fulfill in the first place. Rumors and whispers still linger wherever he goes, so he turns to the one truth he knows: the world must be saved… no matter the cost.
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Get Caught Up on the Series – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
About the Author M.G. Darwish is an award nominated author who writes dark, twisted and action-packed fiction. He tries his best not to base his characters on anyone he knows in real life to avoid that extra weird conversation about how they were brutalized and killed in the book. Oh and he’s terrified of a penguin uprising more than ghosts and demons.
He is best known for his Secret of the Moonlight which was featured on Wattpad.
Welcome to the book blitz for STRIPES, the twelfth book in the adult contemporary romance series, Devil’s Boneyard MC, by Harley Wylde. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
STRIPES (Devil’s Boneyard MC Series #12) by Harley Wylde
Synopsis
Melina Men have never given me a reason to trust them. The Bratva taught me men are brutal. Selfish. And take what they want. Death would be better than tying myself to one ever again. Then a Russian biker swoops in to save me. As much as I want to believe everything he says, how can I? I’ve only known pain at the hands of men. I want him to be different… but any hope I had died long ago.
Stripes She thinks she’s broken. I see a survivor. A strong woman who’s still standing despite what’s been done to her. It will take time, but I’ll help her heal. Prove not all men are evil. I’ll give her a reason to keep living. Never again will someone cause her pain. If they do, they’ll answer to me. My hands are already stained with blood. What’s a little more?
WARNING: Recommended for readers 18+ due to language, violence, and adult situations. Stripes is part of the Devil’s Boneyard MC series and contains darker content some readers may find objectionable. Stripes can be read as a stand-alone story, even though it’s part of a series.
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Excerpt #2: Stripes
“What intel did Wire send us?” I asked.
Gator shrugged, which meant he’d been as pissed as me and hadn’t paid close attention. We’d parked about a block away and observed the place from a distance. I leaned against a building, smoking a cigarette, in the hopes people wouldn’t be suspicious. So far, we’d seen a few customers go in and come out not too long afterward. I highly doubted they were getting their money’s worth.
“I wish Specter would show the fuck up,” I grumbled.
“We’ll be lucky if he does.” Gator scanned the area. “Can I ask you something?”
“If I say no, will it stop you?”
He snorted and shook his head. As I figured. I motioned for him to go ahead.
“Why did you agree to this? Breaking the woman out of there, I understand. But letting them marry the two of you? Why the fuck would you take a whore as your wife?”
I fought for control, knowing he was genuinely curious and didn’t mean it the way it sounded. Otherwise, I’d have already put my fist through his face. I took my time, trying to figure out how I could word it.
“The woman in there didn’t agree to become a whore. They beat her. Raped her. Forced her into that way of life. If we don’t get her out, she’ll only suffer more. Grimm and the Dixie Reapers are concerned the Bratva will try to take her back. Marriage is the only way to protect her.”
Gator stared a moment before giving a slight nod. “Fine. As long as they did not coerce you into this shit. I know how big your heart is, Stripes, even if others don’t always realize it.”
I grinned and put out my cigarette. “Let’s get this out of the way. If Specter shows, great. If not, we’ll handle it.”
Breaking into a brothel wasn’t exactly difficult. I’d expected security, but I hadn’t seen a single man watching over the place. If they’d had electronic surveillance, I knew one of the hackers would have disabled it by now. We walked through the front doors and a woman, most likely the madam, smiled at us broadly.
“Gentlemen, what’s your pleasure today? We can cater to any and all of your needs.”
I curled my fingers into a fist, fighting to maintain control. I wanted to rip this place to pieces with my bare hands. Instead, I took in my surroundings. At a quick glance, I saw the frightened women nearby, a few who looked completely destroyed. They no longer cared what happened to them, and the woman in front of me was the deadest of them all. Despite her smile, her eyes were vacant. She was little more than a puppet. I doubted she had any real control. The Bratva owned her, same as the other women here. Her greeting us only meant she’d been here the longest. They’d broken her long ago and had no reason to doubt she’d do exactly as they commanded.
I didn’t think any of these women came here voluntarily. Someone had possibly trafficked them. At the very least, they were being disciplined like Melina. I didn’t want them to get hurt, which meant I needed to be careful. And yet, I’d have to get my point across. The thought of scaring them soured my stomach. But fear and pain would be the only way to get their attention. At first, anyway.
“Do you want easy way or hard way?” I folded my arms. I didn’t need them to know I was a pushover when it came to a damsel in distress. With my accent, they might even think I had Bratva ties. And I knew it was thicker than usual right now. Even I could hear the difference. “I want Melina Romanov.”
The woman slightly flinched. So, she at least knew who I’d come for. The question was whether she’d hand her over, or if I’d have to destroy the place searching for her. I noticed Gator eyeing the women huddled together in the corner. Something told me Gator would prefer it if we took more than Melina with us. However, the Bratva was going to be pissed as fuck if we did, but I knew how he felt. I didn’t want to leave these women here, either. Hell, some of them didn’t look old enough to be legal. But Melina was my priority.
Shit. She’d said they catered to all needs. Did it mean those girls were underage? It made me want to throw up, but I needed to keep my cool at least a little longer.
No one came forward or gave up Melina’s location. Reaching for a vase on a table nearby, I threw it against the wall, watching it shatter all over the floor. The madam flinched again, but still didn’t give in. The others seemed frightened, and I hated being an asshole to them. But there were times it couldn’t be helped.
Next, I picked up the table itself and hurled it against the wall. The plaster cracked, and the table broke before it fell to the ground. Someone nearby whimpered. The madam only pressed her lips together and still refused to speak. This bitch wasn’t going to crack easily. I really didn’t want to fucking hit her.
I took a step forward and raised my hand, bracing myself to deliver a slap I knew I’d feel all the way to my soul. A soft voice stopped me.
“She’s downstairs,” one of the women said. “There are rooms in the basement. That’s where she is.”
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Author Harley Wylde
About the Author Harley Wylde is the International Bestselling Author of the Dixie Reapers MC, Devil’s Boneyard MC, and Hades Abyss MC series.
When Harley’s writing, her motto is the hotter the better — off the charts sex, commanding men, and the women who can’t deny them. If you want men who talk dirty, are sexy as hell, and take what they want, then you’ve come to the right place. She doesn’t shy away from the dangers and nastiness in the world, bringing those realities to the pages of her books, but always gives her characters a happily-ever-after and makes sure the bad guys get what they deserve.
The times Harley isn’t writing, she’s thinking up naughty things to do to her husband, drinking copious amounts of Starbucks, and reading. She loves to read and devours a book a day, sometimes more. She’s also fond of TV shows and movies from the 1980’s, as well as paranormal shows from the 1990’s to today, even though she’d much rather be reading or writing.
You can find out more about Harley or enter her monthly giveaway on her website. Be sure to join her newsletter while you’re there to learn more about discounts, signing events, and other goodies!
Welcome to the release day blitz for THE ENDGAME, a standalone adult contemporary sports romance, by Bianca Borell. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive teaser, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
Synopsis Every girl with a brother grows up with one fundamental rule: his best friend is off limits. That’s one rule she longs to break when he crashes into her life.
Amelie Weston has been taking the safe path for as long as she can remember. Not disappointing her parents by pursuing the career she wants. And not pursuing the guy she’s been crushing on.
But she’s tired of being the good girl.
Her brother’s best friend is pushing her to stop being a people pleaser and open the bakery of her dreams. Little does he know he’s also at the top of the list of her heart’s greatest desires… and he’s making himself impossible to resist.
Levi Kingston fully intends to become a legend on the field as one of the best quarterbacks ever. He must stay focused and work relentlessly toward his goal. He doesn’t have time for distractions… until he meets his best friend’s sister, and his well-laid plan is challenged.
Bad timing, responsibilities, and loyalty to her brother keep them apart. But the connection between them only grows stronger. Their feelings become impossible to ignore, and the fight against them is pointless.
Will they take a chance on love? Or waste an opportunity for long-awaited happiness?
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Author Bianca Borell
About the Author Bianca Borell is a contemporary romance author, voracious reader, nature lover, and unapologetic daydreamer. She spends her nights deciding between getting up to write or trying to silence the voices of her characters. The battle is never-ending.
She has a weakness for tormented characters, second chances, and happy endings.
She currently lives in Germany with her amazing husband and indulges in way too many pastries than she should.
For updates, news, and releases, be sure to visit Bianca’s official website at www.biancaborell.com.
Welcome to the blog tour for NEVER PLAY FAIR, the second book in the adult thriller series, Sydney Evans Mysteries, by Leah Cupp. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on their giveaway.
NEVER PLAY FAIR (Sydney Evans Mystery Series #2) by Leah Cupps
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: NEVER PLAY FAIR Authors: Leah Cupp Series: The Sydney Evans Mystery Series #2 Publisher: Vision Forty Press Release Date: September 1, 2022
Genre: Adult Mystery/Thriller
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis
Can Sydney find her FBI boyfriend in time, or will this gamble be here last?
Instagram Influencer Sydney Evans has seen and lived her share of photo-worthy experiences, but now, she’s found herself entangled in a situation she never saw coming.
After her FBI agent boyfriend, Alex, disappears while working a case involving a notorious Latin gangster, Vincent Estavez, the Department of Defense is forced to change tactics. Determined to bring down Estavez and the illegal online casino crime ring he’s been running by any means necessary, the FBI orchestrates an operation to infiltrate the gangster’s stronghold.
But Sydney only has one motivation for her own investigation: find Alex before he becomes collateral damage.
Desperate to locate her boyfriend in time, she flies to Costa Rica and is forced to seek help from an unlikely ally: her criminal ex-husband, Jack. He may be the last person she wants to see, but she’ll do whatever it takes to find Alex alive.
But Sydney isn’t the only one with a motivation against Vincent Estavez.
Never Play Fair is a fast-paced standalone thriller. If you like real-world issues, lavish socialite parties, and electrifying twists and turns, then you’ll love Leah Cupps’ provocative cozy mystery.
NEVER PLAY FAIR is the second book in the Sydney Evans Mystery Series and can be read as a standalone.
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Excerpt #1 Why am I still alive?
The question had been tumbling through Ethan Evans’ mind for months. He stared at the concrete brick wall in front of him, which was the color of stained teeth. Nothing was bright in this place, and little of it was clean. He had been left alone, sitting in a small room, waiting for his transport out of ADX Florence, a maximum-security prison in the Rockies.
Pale gray light dropped in from a small window near the ceiling, highlighting the specks of dust that hung in the stale air. The chill of the room bit through his thin clothing.
Under normal circumstances, he would fetch himself a jacket, but he didn’t have the freedom these days. The thought made him nervously wriggle his wrists inside the cold, steel cuffs.
Although his clothes were ill-fitted on his six-foot-two frame. But, he didn’t miss the abrasive fabric of the orange jumpsuit he’d been wearing earlier that day. It was one of the many discomforts of prison, less painful than others, though it branded him as one of the lost souls who needed redemption. Today, he had been given a pair of slacks and a button-up shirt from his old life. Even they didn’t feel as comfortable as they once had. At this point, Ethan was used to being uncomfortable, yet he had found a fortitude within himself he didn’t know he had. He was a survivor.
Surviving the mind-numbing routine of imprisonment had given Ethan plenty of time to ruminate over his feelings; the main one had been anger. It had been three months since he had been placed in a high-security facility to face the consequences of his decisions in Jamaica. Months to think about how his brother had betrayed him.
He had also felt fear. Fear that left him drenched in sweat every night, not knowing if he’d live to see the dawn of another day. When the cell block grew quiet, he still heard sounds and movement. And he would wonder.
Is today the day? The day he will send someone to kill me?
He knew Vincente Estavez would never let him live after learning Ethan had worked with the FBI. Estavez was still a free man, but the upcoming trial could change that rather quickly. From what little Inspector Sam O’Connell had shared with him during their interviews, the FBI had been working tirelessly to put an airtight case together to bring Estavez down.
Then again, nothing was nothing was guaranteed. Ethan was acutely aware of that little issue.
About the Author Leah Cupps is an entrepreneur and author. She writes Middle Grade Mystery Adventure Books as well as Thriller, Mystery, Suspense for Adults.
Leah’s novels are fast-paced mysteries that will keep you up at night as you can’t wait to see what happens in the next chapter.
Leah lives in Indiana with her husband, three young children and three dogs. When she isn’t losing sleep writing her next novel or scaling her next business, she enjoys reading, golfing working out and spending time with her family.
Welcome to the cover reveal for THE LAST MINUTE FIRST LADY, a standalone adult contemporary romance by Tinia Montford, releasing December 22, 2022. See below for information on the book, preorder links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
Cassian Anders will be the youngest governor in Illinois history… If he wins.
That’s all everyone seems to talk about these days. Jolie Coldwell isn’t one of them. As a journalist, her priorities comprise digging up dirt on crooked politicians and local cover-ups. When her latest exposé on a congressman lands her in hot water, her days are reduced to covering the senior center’s casino night.
Unexpectedly, news breaks: the on-air investigative segment needs a replacement. This promotion advance could her career.
She needs a breaking story. She needs it now.
The road to office is ruthless compared to the courtroom. Without warning, Cassian Anders’ popularity rating falls, threatening his position on the ballot. He will do whatever it means to secure votes. Now, not only is he engaged, but he’s getting married to his non-existent fiancée…
He’s never relied on luck, but when a convenient but unorthodox wife falls into his lap? He makes her a deal.
He needs a wife. He needs it now.
Will Jolie and Cassian be able to fool the public long enough? Can she handle the public poking around in her past, one she would rather keep under wraps… Above all, can she be a model first lady or are they destined to be a scandal?
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Author Tinia Montford
About the Author Tinia (TUH-NIA) Montford is a Pisces who’s a sap for romance, especially when there’s (tons of) kissing. Loves eighties sitcoms and will consume anything with chocolate. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English and Graphic Design.
She is a world traveler having climbed a volcano in Nicaragua, scaled Angkor Wat in the blistering sun, and roamed the Acropolis of Athens. Oh, she also dabbles in short stories occasionally.
If you can’t catch her writing, you can bet she’s overindulging on poke bowls, listening to the same four songs, or chilling with her adorbs doggie. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Fiction..
Welcome to the book blitz for WHISKEY ON OUR SHOES, a standalone new adult contemporary romance by Tonya Preece. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis Eva dodges the fans, media, and gossip that follow her supermodel mom and rock star family members by wearing disguises. After an aimless gap year, she struggles to figure out what she wants from life. She moves in with her famous guitar god brother in Austin while he recovers from a drunken stage stunt accident and tries to stay sober. When a hot Texas cowboy named Alex takes Eva by surprise, she risks her safety and security of anonymity by letting him into her unconventional life.
Alex is captivated by Eva and promises to protect her privacy. Yet he has a secret of his own—the fling he had with an older woman is fraught with scandalous potential for him and now Eva. He broke free of that mistake months ago, or so he thought. As things heat up with Eva, his old flame returns and won’t leave him alone.
Just when Alex thinks he has the reins on the situation, his ex teams up with a gossip reporter hell-bent on invading Eva’s privacy. The resulting exposé, with a sly spin on a recent encounter with his ex, is Alex’s worst nightmare, and Eva’s unsure what to believe. Can she face the world with Alex at her side or will she return into hiding?
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Excerpt #2 I drive to the house, and she’s on the porch wearing shorts and a tank top. The sight of her does my heart good. She runs to me as soon as I leave my truck. I pick her up and love the way she wraps her arms and legs around me.
I laugh. “What’s got you in such a good mood?”
“You’re here.” Her bare legs squeeze my hips, and she kisses me. I could become real used to this, with her breasts mashed against my chest and my hands cupped under her butt.
“Come on.” She slides down my body—oh damn, that was hot—and takes my hand. “Hector’s teaching me to cook. We’re making salmon with roasted red pepper pesto.”
In the kitchen, Hector’s setting out ingredients and cookware. “Hello, Alex. Eva wants to learn to cook. Any idea what that’s about?”
“No idea.” I grin, appreciating the Wonder Woman apron Eva’s putting on.
“You like it?” She strikes a pose.
“I love it.” I pull her to me and kiss her, long and hard.
Hector clears his throat—loudly. “Are we cooking here, or what?”
“Sorry, Boss.” Eva laughs, and I move to the other side of the bar.
A pen and notepad call to me, begging me to draw the scene. In my sketch, I nickname Hector “Honcho,” as in head honcho. I draw Eva in a Wonder Woman costume. She and Hector put the salmon in the oven, and she heads over to sit down by me at the bar when he orders her to the sink. “These dishes aren’t washing themselves.”
“Sir, yes sir!” She salutes him. “Show me what to do.”
He explains what needs to be washed by hand and what can be put in the dishwasher, like it’s the first time she’s done this. How strange and different from me. I’ve been washing dishes since I was five years old. Mom had me stand on a chair to reach the sink.
Hector throws together a rice and vegetable side dish.
Once everything’s ready, Eva and I carry our plates to the theater room.
“Have you watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer?” she asks.
“Yeah, it’s good. Cassidi and I watched the whole series a few years ago.”
“I’m up to the ninth episode.”
By the end of the show, we’ve finished eating and share the after-dinner mints she brought from the kitchen. She shuts off the lights. We get comfy in the oversized theater seats and play the next episode. It’s about nightmares coming true in an alternate reality. One of them involves a character being chased by a scary clown.
Eva switches the lights back on and shudders. “I hate clowns.”
“I’m sorry, I forgot that part of this episode. We can skip it if you want.”
“No, I wanna see the end, but can I sit on your lap?” She laughs. “Wow, how cheesy.”
“I like cheese,” I joke. And of course, she’s welcome to sit on my lap anytime she wants.
She leans against my chest, and I put my arms around her. She smells delicious. It’s the usual vanilla but with a hint of something else. Peaches?
The rest of the show is lost on me. I concentrate on having her close.
As the episode ends, she nestles her head between my neck and shoulder and our fingers entwine. Can she hear how fast she makes my heart race?
I press my nose to the top of her head. “You smell like peaches and cream.”
She looks up at me with those beautiful green eyes. “Is that a good thing?”
“It’s a very good thing.” I kiss her, and she shifts on my lap, pushing the button to recline my seat back. Soon, she’s lying on top of me.
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Author Tonya Preece
About the Author Tonya Preece writes romance and contemporary young adult fiction and incorporates music into all her books in one way or another. She lives near Austin, TX where she’s a small business manager for a forensic engineering firm. She and her husband enjoy traveling, live music, wine, and spoiling their fur babies.
As an active SCBWI member since 2015, Tonya has volunteered for several conferences and has served as a critique group facilitator. She joined the Writer’s League of Texas and The Author’s Guild in 2021. She’s serving as the 2022 WriteOnCon Financial Administrator and Critique Boutique Coordinator.
Tonya’s 2022 debut, Whiskey on Our Shoes, was selected for the 2019 #WriteMentor program. One of her YA novels, THE MISSING MEMORIES OF CORDY O’REILLY, earned her a 2020 scholarship/mentorship with Austin SCBWI and was a finalist at the 2018 Houston SCBWI conference.
An avid consumer of written stories, Tonya reads and/or listens to an average of 75 books a year. Some of her favorite YA authors include Jeff Zentner, Julie Buxbaum, Sarah Dessen, and Robin Benway. In adult romance – Kate Clayborn, Christina Lauren, Helena Hunting, Emily Henry, and Abby Jimenez. Series she tries to keep up to date on: Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum. Recent mainstream faves are Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens and Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Five Fun Facts about Tonya that aren’t reading or writing related:
1. She volunteers at a local food pantry, where she’s enjoyed serving weekly since 2017.
2. Her travel bucket list includes Italy, Ireland, and Bora Bora. Australia would be awesome, too!
3. She loves ziplining, indoor skydiving, and rollercoasters.
4. She’s a fan of bands like With Confidence, Broadside, All Time Low, State Champs, Sleeping with Sirens, and As It Is.
5. In her free time, she can be found indulging a jigsaw puzzle habit and/or binging shows like Outer Banks, Never Have I Ever, Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, Good Girls, Veronica Mars, and iZombie.
Welcome to the book blitz for SEASPOKEN, a standalone young adult/new adult fantasy romance by Delena White. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
Synopsis An ocean consumed by rage. A challenge that demands blood. A love that defies everything.
Battle-hardened warrior Evya Atathari longs for a truce between her sea-dwelling tribe and the elven invaders. But her mother, the powerful and vengeful Seamother, will stop at nothing to see the elves destroyed.
Then the Seamother enacts a brutal rite of challenge for Evya’s hand to gain a powerful ally in the war. But even as the greatest warriors of the sea vie for her favor, her heart is captured by a man who should be her mortal enemy.
Keliveth Dalzana is a failed prophet of the elven king’s court—until a vision leads him to Evya and a chance at ending the war. Drawn to Keliveth’s idealism, Evya agrees to help him win the deadly contest for her hand and establish a peace treaty through their marriage. Together, they dare to dream of a better future.
But when their own peoples turn against them, Keliveth and Evya must find the courage to embrace their true destinies—and decide how great a price they can pay for their love.
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Excerpt #2 “He’s a fool if he thinks he can survive a challenge made for the warriors of the sea,” my mother spits.
“Of course he is. So why not let him join, and enjoy his downfall in the competition? If Falamar means to insult us, he will only insult his own kind in the end.”
Each harsh word grates me, and I pray my face doesn’t betray my bluff. I don’t glance back to see Keliveth’s expression. I can explain this to him later—while I’m helping him escape to someplace where the Seamother’s gaze can’t follow.
Unless I really could convince him to join the challenge.
The thought wrings my heart. Keliveth is a healer, a dreamer, nothing like the vicious sea warriors who want to claim me as their mate. My shoulder still tingles with the remnants of his magic—beautiful, impossible energy that felt as if it were singing life back into me. His soul remembers everything mine has forgotten, and if anyone could help me heal the seas, I believe it would be him.
But he wouldn’t stand a chance against the other contenders. It would be cruel to ask it of him.
“If he wishes to challenge, why does he not speak for himself?” the Seamother demands.
“To be fair, you haven’t given me much of an opportunity.” Keliveth’s voice rings out clear and confident behind me.
I glance back in surprise. I thought he’d be cowering at the sight of my mother, but instead he’s standing with his arms folded and a frown on his face. He is shorter than the Seamother by nearly a head, yet he looks at her if thoroughly unimpressed with her.
My mother’s face crinkles in disgust. “And what would you say that would be worth hearing?”
“Perhaps nothing.” His mouth turns up into a small, sly smile. “Or perhaps you would be interested to know the elven customs of marriage as they pertain to political truces.”
“… what?” My mother goes very still. I see the confusion in her eyes. She knows little of the elves besides their language and their warfare tactics—certainly nothing of their marriage customs. But I know the elves much better, and I begin to guess how Keliveth is going to play this. My heart speeds as inexplicable yearning rushes through me.
Keliveth takes a deep breath as if bracing himself. When he speaks, his words are calm and measured. “There’s only one form of agreement which my people consider unbreakable, and that is marriage. If I were to win the hand of the princess, and she were to accept me, our union would serve as a permanent truce between our peoples. There would be no more battles, no more attacks in the dead of night. No one else would have to fight and die.”
Depths, he’s playing along perfectly. A spark of admiration flares within me. For months I’ve known him only as a singer, a fantasy set apart from the brutality of life. Now I see the elven lord—the cunning in his gray eyes and the confidence in every word and gesture, as if the deadly machinations of rulers and realms are a familiar game to him. Where did he come from, before Dalzana House and the elven kingdoms were scattered?
The Seamother grips her knife so hard that every joint and bone in her hand bulges. “I do not wish a truce with your people.”
“Would you rather this war continue until the seas are stained red forever and there is no trace of life or beauty left? I know you care nothing for my people, but you care for the lives of your own, of course.” Keliveth almost looks smug, like he’s begging the Seamother to contradict him. “I swear I had no hand in the attack tonight, but I do have the ear of the king and a place of authority among the elves. I want peace for your people as well as mine. Let me challenge for Ev—for the hand of the princess. If I die in the attempt”—he glances at me—“then at least I will have died in pursuit of the most noble goal I can imagine.”
The words are something out of an old tale, and they hit me like stones. No one speaks like that. No one believes that after so many years of war and bitter survival. Yet Keliveth sounds utterly serious—and so naive. I step closer to him, keeping my gaze fixed on my mother in case she lashes out for a quick strike. I need to end this conversation and get Keliveth out of here before he provokes her any further.
And before he speaks any more impossible hope to my heart.
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Author Dalena White
About the Author Sarah Delena White writes eclectic speculative fiction that weaves world folklore and ancient concepts into vibrant, original story worlds, with a fine balance of poetry and snark. When she’s not writing, she can be found exploring nature, creating art, and seeking to make the perfect cup of coffee.
Welcome to the cover reveal for HOW TO ROPE A BARBARIC COWBOY, the eighth book in the adult contemporary romance series, Silver Springs Ranch, by Anya Summers, releasing November 29, 2022. See below for the cover, information on the book and series, preorder links, and a link to add it to your Goodreads TBR.
HOW TO ROPE A BARBARIC COWBOY (Silver Springs Ranch Series #8) by Anya Summers
Synopsis Penelope has always been a ‘good girl’. Never colored outside the lines. Never did anything to rock the boat. But when her ex-boyfriend blows back into town, she decides to take a ride on the wild side with a sexy stranger who has ‘bad boy’ written all over his rock hard body.
He’s dangerous, smoking hot, and more than willing to give her what she wants—a night of uninhibited pleasure. But she could never fall in love with a military man, not with the pain of her past.
Navy SEAL Eli is only too happy to help the gorgeous Penelope make her ex jealous. When he’s not on a black ops mission, he takes his pleasure where he can find it. What he didn’t count on was that a single night would awaken a forbidden craving for a woman and a life that can never be his.
How can they hope for a future together when honor, duty and history work together to tear them apart?
About the Author Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.
Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.
Welcome to the blog tour for BRATVA BEAUTY, the fourth book in the adult contemporary mafia romance series, The Ivankov Brotherhood, by Sabine Barclay. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on their giveaway.
BRATVA BEAUTY (The Ivankov Brotherhood Series #4) by Sabine Barclay
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: BRATVA BEAUTY Authors: Sabine Barclay Series: The Ivankov Brotherhood Series #4 Publisher: Oliver Heber Books Release Date: November 1, 2022
Genre: Adult Contemporary Mafia Romance
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis She can pretend not to notice…
They say I’m the best looking in my family. I couldn’t care less.
But her…She takes my breath away.
Not everyone sees her the way I do. That’s fine by me because she’s mine.
I pity those who think they can come between us.
I won’t stop until she’s at my side. Mine to touch. Mine to love. Mine to push to her limits then bring her back.
She’s my everything. She’s my soulmate.
Bratva Beauty is an interconnecting, standalone Dark Mafia Romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It contains extra-steamy scenes that will make your toes curl and your granny blush. This is book four in The Ivankov Brotherhood, a six-book series that’ll keep you warm at night.
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Excerpt #1 Pasha
The elevator pings and opens on the seventh floor. Sumiko darts a glance at my relatives before she looks at me.
“Do you want to come?”
My wolfish grin makes her blush. I don’t bother looking at anyone else as I follow her out of the elevator. I watch Tiffany and Sarah each head to a door before I stop behind Sumiko at a third one. I’m glad she has her own room. Once the door closes behind me, I snag her arm, spin her around, and pin her against the door.
“Tell me what you do and don’t want. We stop when you say so.”
“I want you.”
“To do what, malyshka? Tell me, and I’ll grant whatever wish you have tonight.”
I watch her bite her lip, and I can’t stop myself from prying it loose with my thumb, then replacing her teeth with mine. I nip and tug as her arms come around my neck. I push her skirt up to her waist and run my hands over the outside and inside of her thighs. I can feel the sticky moisture that coats the inside of her thighs. Then my hands are on her ass. Her smooth, bare ass. Finally.
“Fvck, Sumiko. I’ve been wanting to do this since you walked past me on the sand.”
I step back and spin her around before dropping to my knee. I smatter kisses over each globe, kneading the flesh and squeezing until I see my fingerprints. I drag my teeth along her left cheek, and she pushes her hips back. I flick my tongue into the top of the division between each half. I wait to see what she does. She reaches back and presses against the back of my head. I snag her hand and pin it to her lower back. The other joins it, surprising me. When she crosses her wrists, I know all I need to. I bring my hand down on her right cheek, enjoying the sound and how the flesh bounces. I squeeze as hard as I did in the club. She pushes back into my hand. I alternate spanking her with squeezing. I keep gliding my teeth along her ass and flicking her crack with my tongue.
“Pasha.”
She’s begging. But for what?
“You have to tell me, malyshka.”
“More. Something. Anything. Just more.”
“Do you want my fingers in you?”
“Yes.”
It’s a breathy answer, and it makes my cock twitch. I thrust two fingers into her, and she tightens her muscles around them, locking them inside her pussy.
“Do you want my tongue in you?”
“Yes.”
That was a definite moan. I nudge her legs apart. My free hand stops smacking her and pulls her hips back until I can get my mouth on her clit. I lick and suck until I feel her trembling and getting close. I draw back, and she whimpers.
I stand and sweep her into my arms, making her squeak.
“You don’t have to—”
“I want you in my arms.”
I carry her to the armchair near the window and sit, arranging her to straddle me. I pull the pieces of material covering her tits out of the way. Her light brown nipples are hard, pointing straight at me. They’re begging to be sucked, and I’m happy to oblige. As I go back and forth between them, I return my fingers to her cunt and work her as she rides them. My thumb rubs her clit until I feel her pussy tightening again. I pull back again.
“Pasha, please. I need to come.”
“Then ask, malyshka. I think you know that.”
Her eyes widen as she sits back onto my knees. My hands rest lightly on her thighs. When our gazes lock, she asks the question I expected.
About the Author Sabine Barclay, a nom de plume also writing Historical Romance as Celeste Barclay, lives near the Southern California coast with her husband and sons. Growing up in the Midwest, Sabine enjoyed spending as much time in and on the water as she could. Now she lives near the beach. She’s an avid swimmer, a hopeful future surfer, and a former rower. Before becoming a full-time author, Sabine was a Social Studies and English teacher. She holds degrees in International Affairs (BA), Secondary Social Science (MAT), and Political Management (MPS). She channels that knowledge into creating engrossing contemporary romances that will make your toes curl and your granny blush..
Welcome to the book blitz for KINGDOMS OF WRATH AND ICE, an adult dark fantasy anthology of icy villains, by various authors. See below for information on the book, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on their giveaway.
KINGDOMS OF WRATH AND ICE by Various Authors
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited Title: WRATH AND ICE Authors: Andrew LiVecchi, E. Seneca, Elise Berensen Meyer, Benjamin Sperduto, Arwyn Sherman, J. D. Trebmal, Lily Manning, Tina Capricorn, Jan Marie Reynoldson, Kimberly Grymes, Paul Williams, William Rigsby, Maria Carvalho, Cherie Lynae Cabrera Suski, and Jessica Julien Edited by: Liz Delton & Benjamin Thomas Publisher: Tourmaline & Quartz Publishing Release Date: November 1, 2022
Genre: Adult Dark Fantasy
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon IT | Amazon FR
Synopsis Fifteen original tales of wrath and ice.
Curl up by a warm fire as winter’s icy fingers claw their way down your back and sink into this collection tales of icy villains.
Tales of revenge. Of dubious heroes and well-meaning winter witches. Of noble assassins and the origins of evil. You might be left questioning who really is the villain, or just whose side you’re on.
But as the ice thaws, you might see some hope left, after all…
• The Kelpie by Andrew LiVecchi
• Ashen Queen by E. Seneca
• The Third Son by Elise Berensen Meyer
• Grandmother Oak by Benjamin Sperduto
• A Forever Winter by Arwyn Sherman
• How The Sea Witch Lost Her Heart by J. D. Trebmal
• Elemental by Lily Manning
• The Dark King of Time by Tina Capricorn
• The Winter Queen by Jan Marie Reynoldson
• Glace Noir by Kimberly Grymes
• Immistar by Paul Williams
• Don’t Feed the Beasts by William Rigsby
• Cold Revenge by Maria Carvalho
• Crown of Sweetgrass by Cherie Lynae Cabrera Suski
• The Grusel Woods by Jessica Julien
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Excerpt #2 From ‘The Third Son’ by Elise Berensen Meyer
Three days. Three Loki-cursed days of feasting. Of looking sorrowful during sad stories he did not find depressing. Of laughing at jests he did not find funny. Of communing with courtiers he did not trust.
Leaving the revelers to enjoy their last feast day, Drek was on his way out of the great hall when he crossed paths with one of his servants turned street spy. To any passersby who happened to see the young elf walk past Drek while balancing a tray of spiced pear wine, it would seem that the prince and the servant made no contact. Yet, Drek walked through the behemoth doors into the front corridor with a note tucked into his large fist.
He opened the missive as soon as he walked through his chamber door and didn’t bother relaxing into one of the plush leather chairs in the sitting room to read it. Heading straight to his dressing room, he decoded the message, letting his feet carry him along the familiar path. It related a lead that could reveal his next victim. No, he had decided not to think of them that way. Victim was much too personal of a word. Assassins used words like target, or mark. Those were better words. Words that separated him from the sordid deeds he carried out behind the crown’s back. His own father’s back.
Black training leathers hung in the back of his closet. They were nondescript and not unusual attire for a third born warrior-prince to own. However, when Drek donned them with a black tunic, boots, and a deep hooded cloak, he truly looked like what he had become. An assassin, but not one of those evil-worshiping members of the Order of Fenrir. They were the ones he was attempting to root out of his father’s court, but sometimes you had to become your worst nightmare in order to fight it.
Three days. Three Loki-cursed days of feasting. Of looking sorrowful during sad stories he did not find depressing. Of laughing at jests he did not find funny. Of communing with courtiers he did not trust.
Leaving the revelers to enjoy their last feast day, Drek was on his way out of the great hall when he crossed paths with one of his servants turned street spy. To any passersby who happened to see the young elf walk past Drek while balancing a tray of spiced pear wine, it would seem that the prince and the servant made no contact. Yet, Drek walked through the behemoth doors into the front corridor with a note tucked into his large fist.
He opened the missive as soon as he walked through his chamber door and didn’t bother relaxing into one of the plush leather chairs in the sitting room to read it. Heading straight to his dressing room, he decoded the message, letting his feet carry him along the familiar path. It related a lead that could reveal his next victim. No, he had decided not to think of them that way. Victim was much too personal of a word. Assassins used words like target, or mark. Those were better words. Words that separated him from the sordid deeds he carried out behind the crown’s back. His own father’s back.
Black training leathers hung in the back of his closet. They were nondescript and not unusual attire for a third born warrior-prince to own. However, when Drek donned them with a black tunic, boots, and a deep hooded cloak, he truly looked like what he had become. An assassin, but not one of those evil-worshiping members of the Order of Fenrir. They were the ones he was attempting to root out of his father’s court, but sometimes you had to become your worst nightmare in order to fight it.
Welcome to the book blitz for STORMS AND EMBERS, the third book in the adult urban fantasy series, The Reign of Goddesses, by C.D. Britt. See below for information on the book and series, buy links, an exclusive excerpt, and details on her giveaway.
STORMS AND EMBERS (The Reign of Goddesses Series #3) by C.D. Britt
About the Book – Read for Free with Kindle Unlimited
Title: STORMS AND EMBERS Series: The Reign of Goddesses Series #3 Author: C.D. Britt Release Date: November 1, 2022 Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT
Synopsis
Archon of Zephyr. Queen of the Goddesses. A Broken Woman.
Hera has reigned over Olympus and humanity for millennia. Seen as cold, sarcastic, and callous, she uses this to her advantage, keeping everyone, including her sisters, at a distance. It’s a lonely life, but it worked, until the Titans decided that breaking her father out of Tartarus was a good idea. A move that put her and her sisters against the Titans in a battle for their thrones upon Olympus.
Dr. Viktor Alden understands being alone. As a man who has spent his immortal life as a nomad, living with an oath that has kept him from allowing anyone to really know him, he is fascinated by the enigmatic woman who quite literally runs the world. Too bad they have a battle they may not win, or even live through, for him to learn the intricacies that make up the Queen of the Goddesses.
Now, two people who have spent their entire lives distrusting the world must learn to trust each other if they want to survive the upcoming war.
Storms and Embers is the final book in the Reign of Goddesses series.
TW: violence, cursing, adult situations.
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Excerpt #2 Stepping into the domed part of the building, he took in the rows of curved benches lined up before a raised platform, where a long table overlooked the would-be crowd. For a moment, he was distracted from his ordeal by the gravitas of the chambers. He’d seen much of human civilization, and now he stood in a place that held such importance to the much smaller version of the world.
But for all the power he felt in the air, every bit of it gravitated toward one person.
Hera, the Archon and Queen of the Goddesses, stood in the middle of the long table. It’d been so long since he’d glimpsed her in the flesh, not on a screen or a paper. Her blonde hair fell in curls around her oval face and grazed her shoulders, and her stormy gray eyes pierced him with the intensity of a bird of prey spotting its next meal. She was gorgeous; he would never deny that.
When they approached the center of the chambers, West gave him a short nod, and left his side to join Amphitrite, who stood next to the first row of benches with her arms folded
On the opposite side of the aisle was her other sister, Persephone, Ruler of the Underworld. A male with dark blonde hair stood next to her. His green eyes were not hostile, but watchful, much like the guards out front. Viktor felt the man’s power thrumming around him, searching and seeking. If he remembered correctly, this was Devon, West’s closest friend and Demeter’s scion.
When he looked at everyone, they all stared at him pensively, as if struggling to reconcile him with Hestia’s power—or perhaps the memory of Hestia herself, for the Goddesses. Questions were obvious in their eyes, but the answers were unattainable for now, and he was unsure how they would react when he couldn’t give them what they wanted.
The room remained quiet for so long that when Hera finally spoke, he caught West jumping a bit in his seat from his periphery.
“Dr. Viktor Alden, according to Amphitrite, you hold the power of our sister, Hestia. Is this correct?”
Words could trigger the curse, and he was going to play it as safe as he could. So, he silently extended his hand and ignited a flame in his open palm.
About the Author C.D. Britt began her writing journey when her husband told her she needed to use her excessive imagination to write stories as opposed to creating a daily narrative for him. Ever since she penned her first words, life has been a lot more peaceful for him.
She currently resides in Texas where she has yet to adapt to the heat. Her husband thrives in it, so unfortunately they will not be relocating to colder climates anytime soon.
Their two young children would honestly complain either way.
When she is not in her writing cave (hiding from the sun), she enjoys ignoring the world as much as her children will allow with a good book, music, and vast amounts of coffee (until it’s time for wine).
C.D. Britt is the author of Shadows and Vines and the upcoming book, Sirens and Leviathans.
Both books are part of the Reign of Goddesses series.
