Author Archives: Book Loving Pixies

COVER REVEAL ~ All I Ask by Elizabeth York

 
 

Title: All I Ask
Author: Elizabeth York

Genre: Contemporary/Romantic Suspense
Release Date: May 23, 2017
Photographer: MHPhotography
Designer: MGBookcover & Design

 
 



My name is Devan Anderson and I am a photographer and the by product of a cheating father and a childhood evaporated by illness. I’m stubborn, protective, but I care more than I let on. What does a girl like me do when I taste life for the first time? 

I’ll give you a hint. It isn’t what you think.

My name is Ian Jensen and I am a Pediatric Oncologist that works day and night with kids that prove to be braver than I. I am open to Nerf gun fights, having fun, and taking control. What’s a doctor who lives life by the book do when given a new chapter to live in? 

Ask me again tomorrow?

What happens when a photographer set to live in the dark meets the doctor that lives in the light? What happens when our world collide?
 


 




“Put your hands up,” a little voice yelled. Ian and I put our hands up. I turned my head to see a little boy wearing a mask and a cape holding a Nerf bow. I smiled as Ian reached into his coat and snagged a little Nerf gun.  
“Who are you?” I asked to distract the kid avenger from Ian’s movements. 
“I am-,” his voice froze as I saw a woman stepped out of a room with her arms crossed. She cleared her throat as I looked at Ian and he winked. 
In one swift, move Ian turned with his Nerf gun and shot a toy bullet as he moved in front of me. The boy fired and his bullet hit the wall as he pulled back the arm on the bow and was ready to fire again. Ian pulled the trigger on the little boy and fired again intentionally hitting the wall as the masked child fired again. 
Ian groaned as he took a toy arrow in the leg, and fell to the floor. I immediately wanted to play along so I grabbed his gun and fired at the boy who was faster than the foam bullet I launched.
I went to step forward over Ian when I got really dizzy and lost my balance. I fell back and hit the floor with a thud. 
“Doctor Ian, is she okay?” a little voice asked as a bright light was intensely in my eyes. 
“What’s your name?” Ian asked as he looked me over. 
“You know my name.” 
“What day is it?” Ian asked as I had to follow his finger.  
“Ass hole day?” I asked and snickered when Ian scoffed because there were virgin ears around. 

 

Author Elizabeth York has been writing for about seven years. Located in the southeast, she spends her days drinking sweet tea on the porch with her laptop in hand. She has devoted her life to her family and her books. With the loss of her Father to cancer in 2010 she makes “Dear Daddy” dedication pages in each book and donates 10% royalties to cancer research.

Elizabeth was given a 2015 Author of the Year award sponsored by 31 blogs for her role in helping her fellow authors and her writing. She was also accepted into the Romance Writers of America organization in May of 2015.







 

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REBOOT ~ Pier 70 by Nicole Edwards

Thats right! 

The Nicole Edwards Pier 70 series has a SEXY NEW look!!! 

Why? 

Because the final book is almost here! 

And we are celebrating the completion of this
HOT M/M series with some FIRE!

If you haven’t started this series yet, you have plenty of time to read the first three books
before the final book hits your eReader on March 28th
Are you ready to see the new covers and re-explore The Pier 70 Series?
 
 
BOOK 1 – RECKLESS
 

BOOK 2 – FEARLESS

BOOK 3 – SPEECHLESS

 
AND COMING MARCH 28th, 2017….

HARMLESS!

 The final book in this HOT MM Romance!

 
 
 
 

Pre-Order your copy AND read an excerpt HERE!

Direct Pre-Order links here: 

 

Be sure to join Nicole Edwards on her Facebook Fan Group &
her Author Page on release day for all the fun, excitement and knowing her, giveaways!!!

RELEASE BLITZ ~ With My Whole Heart by MariaLisa deMora

Title: With My Whole Heart 

Author: MariaLisa deMora

 

 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Release Date: March 20, 2017

 

 


With My Whole Heart is a complicated story about family.

Jaime’s a young, single mother who is trying to make ends meet, feeling like she’s always waging an uphill battle to make sure she and her son are housed, fed, and healthy. Connor’s designed his life to stay too busy for relationships.

How complicated is it?

She’s his big brother’s surrogate, and he’s the sperm donor. How in the hell would this ever work? Connor didn’t know, but he was determined to convince the feisty little blonde to take a chance on him. What he didn’t realize was it meant taking a chance on himself, too.

Caution: This isn’t an MC story. If you’re looking for grit, you’ll need to get your hard on somewhere else. No one gets kidnapped or assaulted in this one. Or even runs around without underwear on, I mean … the hero wears boxers at one point. Come on! It’s like I don’t know the me who wrote it. Plus it’s super sappy in places, and an unusual story setup. It’s not a feckin’ unicorn, but it’ll do.

 http://bit.ly/GR-WholeHeart



 

“This book has a special place in my heart. I was pulled in from the first words to the last. I love when a story calls to my
heart, when you can honestly relate to the characters.” – Shay from Mommys a Book Whore
 

 

“This author’s writing is just so sublime – the hard edges of the brittle life she depicted through clipped dialogue and
terse prose in Bones being smoothed out and rounded eloquently into this intimate romance, centred as it is around warm, loving people who care so deeply for one another.” – Carcoura LaRomantique, Goodreads review

 

“This book is epically brilliant. Between her genius little boy and her tough backbone, you can’t help but admire Jaime.” – Angela, Goodreads review
 

“I finished reading with a smile on my face and joyful heart. I recommend to all who want a story full of emotions and good feelings.” – Lu Bielefeld *Book Whore Brazil*


 

Amazon  Nook  iBooks  Kobo

 


 

 


From Chapter 6

Connor

Standing just around the corner from the living room, Connor was glad no one had heard him come in the front door.

Marie and Cooper both knew where he stood on this meeting, and it wasn’t in favor of it at all. If they’d seen him, they would have clammed up, afraid to set him off. He was excited about them having another baby, knew it was something Marie had dreamed of nearly since Sam was put in her arms.

With a gestational carrier, he had no worries there. There was absolutely nothing to tie the baby back to the womb that nurtured during the pregnancy. Needing an egg donor, well, he got that it took two to tango, and with Marie’s eggs not an option, a donor was necessary. But he’d urged them to do a blind donation, not someone you had to look in the face for nine months. Sperm donor, also a necessity, and one he was honored his brother had asked him to do again.

Connor didn’t get confused, though, didn’t have any issues with Sam calling him Uncle Con. Never thought of the boy as his child. Sam was Cooper’s kid, end of story. This, though? Having the egg donor and carrier in one person and then getting to know that person intimately? Mistake.

That was how he’d felt until five minutes ago, at least.

Hearing this woman express sorrow at the death of someone she never knew shocked him, but her sincerity couldn’t be questioned. She sounded like she knew how it felt, and the genuine sadness in her voice picked at the scar he carried inside him.

When Cole had died, he’d known it. The minute it happened, he’d felt it. That damn psychic tie so many twins had that he and science couldn’t explain. The echo that had been so strong between them, always. Bicycle wrecks and broken hearts, everything had been shared between the two of them. 

It meant the very instant his brother was no longer breathing on this earth had branded in his brain. Connor had been on the basketball court, taking a class of freshmen through a new set of drills when it felt like his heart exploded. He’d
fallen to his knees, hands clutching his chest, silent in the face of an overwhelming pain. Scared the fuck out of the kids. They’d thought Coach was having a heart attack, and two of them had dialed 911, calling the sheriff to the school before he could stop them, leaving Connor to have to try and explain something he couldn’t even put words to.

Four days later, when the same sheriff came visiting they’d shared a knowing look. It wasn’t news to Connor that Cole was gone. Not to him. The silence in his head was enough proof for him.

If I’d gone in the military with him, I would have been there. Could have saved him. That was the only thing he and his twin had ever really argued about, and in the end, Cole’s driven need to protect and serve had won out, separating the
two men for the first time in their lives.

Connor hadn’t felt the same calling, though. Cole had enlisted and headed to boot camp, and Connor had gone to college instead. 

He listened to the murmur of voices grow softer, more distant and knew Cooper, Marie, and the woman had gone into the kitchen. Connor had been supposed to meet her, not understanding why Cooper wanted him to have a face to go with the carrier’s name, Jaime Grimes, but he’d been willing to go along with it. He’d laughed and told his brother, “Least I can do.”  

Connor lifted a hand, knuckles grinding roughly across his sternum, accepting the pain as his due.

Knowing this woman standing in his big brother’s kitchen understood about loss, too, he couldn’t go in there. Couldn’t face her, afraid she’d see the guilt he tried to keep buried. If I’d been there.

Turning on his heel, he stalked to the door and went out, closing it soundlessly behind him. 

 


Rebel Wayfarers MC series

 

Series Reading Order & Series Buy Links

Amazon  •  Barnes & Noble  •  Kobo  •  iTunes

 

Occupy Yourself Band series

Amazon  •  Barnes & Noble  •  Kobo  •  iTunes

 

Neither This, Nor That MC series

Amazon  •  Barnes & Noble  •  Kobo  •  iTunes


Raised in the south, MariaLisa learned about the magic of books at an early age. Every summer, she would spend hours in the local library, devouring books of every genre. Self-described as a book-a-holic, she says “I’ve always loved to read, but then I discovered writing, and found I adored that, too. For reading … if nothing else is available, I’ve been known to read the back of the cereal box.”

A hockey fan, hiker, gamer, and single mom of a special needs son, she embraces her inner geek and has been working in the tech field for a publishing company for a couple decades.

Music is a driving passion, and she says, “I love music of nearly any genre — jazz, country, rock, alt rock, metal, classical, bluegrass, rap, hip hop … you name it, I listen to it. I can often be seen dancing through the house in the early mornings. But I really, REALLY love live music. My favorite thing with music is seeing bands in small, dive bars [read: small, intimate venues]. If said bar [venue] has a good selection of premium tequila, then that’s a plus!”


Connect with MariaLisa

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NEW RELEASE ~ Claiming Grace (Book 1 of 2 in the Ace Security Series) by Susan Stoker

 

Claiming Grace 
(Book 1 of 2 in the Ace Security Series)
by Susan Stoker

Date of Publication: March 14, 2017

BlurbFor Logan Anderson, moving on from a traumatic past means moving back to his hometown of Castle Rock, Colorado, to start a personal-security business with his brothers. But it’s not long before Logan runs into Grace Mason, his best friend from high school…and the woman who never answered his letters during his Army years.

Grace was pleasantly surprised to see Logan return to Castle Rock, despite their falling-out ten years ago. Everyone always assumed they would end up together, including Grace, who had eyes only for him. But as Logan eventually escaped their town, Grace got pulled further into her family’s controlling grasp—and farther away from the man she loved.

Now, united by scars both visible and not, the two must fight to free Grace from the suffocating hold of her family. But the Masons won’t let go easily—and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the couple apart.

Available From

 

About Susan Stoker

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

Find Susan Stoker Online

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RELEASE DAY BLITZ ~ Under Pressure by Aria Cole.

 

 

 


Jean-Luc Martel knows good taste. As the award-winning celebrity chef of éloïse, he’s amassed a high-end clientele and hordes of dedicated foodie fans. But while he’s a master in the kitchen, his reputation for being a nightmare to work with precedes him. Known for his rapid-fire temper, chiseled good looks, and a dash of tattooed, bad boy edge, Jean-Luc doesn’t take shit from anyone. Until he meets Delaney Thomas. She’s talented, sassy, entirely too sexy for her own good, and the niece of his best friend and sous chef.

Every bone in his body is telling him to take what’s his, but outside forces soon conspire to pull them apart, and Jean-Luc finds himself more torn and tortured than he’s ever been. As his bad boy reputation threatens to rattle the very foundations of the forever he’s trying to build with Delaney, they’ll both be forced to decide if love really can exist under the most intense pressure.

Warning: Jean-Luc is a sex-on-a-stick, walking, talking, blue-blooded alpha male. The only thing that melts this man’s frozen heart is the woman of his dreams, and something tells him nothing would taste sweeter than Delaney on his tongue. If you can’t handle the heat, stay out of Jean-Luc’s kitchen!


 






Aria Cole
is a thirty-something housewife who once felt bad for reading dirty books late at night, until she decided to write her own. Possessive alpha men and the sassy heroines who love them are common, along with a healthy dose of irresistible insta-love and happily ever afters so sweet your teeth may ache.


For a safe, off-the-charts HOT, and always HEA story that doesn’t take a lifetime to read, get lost in an Aria Cole book!
Follow Aria on Amazon for new release updates, or stalk her on Facebook and Twitter to see which daring book boyfriend she’s writing next!

Sign up to get a NEW RELEASE ALERT from me!


RELEASE BLITZ ~ Anson by Maggie Ryan & Alta Hensley

Anson_NOWLIVEbanner

Anson by Alta Hensley and Maggie Ryan is LIVE
and #FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon:

ADD TO GOODREADS: 

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Blurb:

USA Today Bestselling Authors Maggie Ryan and Alta Hensley join forces again to bring you the third novel in this action-packed, romantic suspense trilogy full of bad boys and the women who love them.

Sinister…passion…freedom.

Anson Steele, along with his two brothers and father, lives by one code: Help all in need. Even if it means saving those who walk among the most sinister criminals in the world. Known as The Black Stallions, their mission is simple – provide rescue and safety to the innocents drawn into the evil depths of the underground.
Natalia Alvarez has been sold to the leader of one of Argentinian’s largest drug cartels at an underground human auction. Being sold to the highest bidder, she is now nothing more than a possession of Juan Montez and hidden away deep within the walls of his South American compound.

Anson Steele has been on the hunt for Natalia since the day he first saw her at the auction and helplessly had to watch her while not being able to do a thing about it. But he has made it is life’s mission to find this woman and pull her out of the depths of hell at whatever cost. She will be his save one way or another.
With the backdrop of the mission being the unforgiving jungles and the dangerous streets of Argentina, and escaping a foreign country near impossible, is Natalia doomed to be locked away forever?

While fighting against a powerful drug cartel and their ruthless leader, will Anson Steele be able to rescue Natalia before it is too late? Will they both be able to find refuse in The Black Stallion Ranch and put this awful nightmare behind them?
Publisher’s Note: This book contains graphic sex and BDSM elements.


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About the Authors:

Alta Hensley: Alta Hensley is a USA TODAY bestselling erotic romance author who has had #1 top-selling books in dark, contemporary, BDSM, erotic science fiction, humor, suspense and historical. She writes the hot, dark, and dirty romance.
Being a multi-published author in the romance genre, Alta is known for her dark, gritty alpha heroes, sometimes sweet love stories, hot eroticism, and engaging tales of the constant struggle between dominance and submission.

Author Links


Maggie Ryan: USA Today and #1 International Best Selling Author in Victorian, Historical, Contemporary and Western Romance.

Fantasy is a world that offers endless possibilities. Whether you travel back in time to take a journey to the cobblestone streets of London, enjoy the modernity of our contemporary age, or step through a portal to some future yet to be discovered, every letter of every word offers infinite possibilities. I love to write stories that take a reader on a journey, one they can disappear into, to experience what might have been or what is to come!

My hope is that you settle back in your favorite chair and allow my books to entertain you as you escape into another world. Whichever you choose, I wish you Happy Reading!

Author Links



 

 

RELEASE BLITZ ~ Ripple Effect (Episode 3) by Keri Lake


From the author of Ricochet and Backfire comes a dark erotic suspense serial …


Episode Three:
In the underbelly, trust is everything, and Dylan will soon discover that Ripley trusts no one.
With the return of an old threat, loyalty is on the line, and betrayal could mean the end of everything for both of them.


Series Synopsis:

Ripley

They call me RIP.
I’m a killer. A murderer. A psychopath.
In the eyes of the righteous, I’m a monster, born of sin and depravity.
I want to protect her, but I’m not a good man.
I want to love her, but I no longer feel.
She gets under my skin, though, and has awakened something inside of me.
Something I’d kill for.
I’m not her savior—not even close. In fact, I’m worse than the hell she’s already suffered.
I’m her vengeance. Tit for tat, as they say.
And if she’s not careful, I’ll be her ruin.

Dylan

For months, I’ve watched him.
I’ve fantasized him as my savior, my lover. My ticket out of the hell I’ve lived in for the last six years.
I never dreamed he’d be my nightmare.
Had I known what he really is, I’d have never gotten in the car that night, but life is full of cause and effect.
And sometimes the choice on offer isn’t a choice at all.
It’s the result of something already in motion, and we’re merely left to survive the ripple effect.

*This is an erotic suspense/erotic romance not recommended for readers under the age of 18 due to graphic violence and sex

 
I sit on the edge of the bathtub, breathing through my nose to keep from throwing up whatever’s left in my stomach.  An incessant tremble runs beneath my skin, stirring up nausea in my gut.  
“It just … came out of nowhere.  I felt sick.”  The glass of water passed to me diverts my attention, and I glance up at Ripley’s massive form looming over me, arms crossed.  “That smell.  Something about the smell on your hands.”
“Bleach.”
“Were you cleaning something?”  I take a small sip of the water, nervous that I might not be able to keep it from coming back up.
“Blood,” is all he says, as if I’m not supposed to ask.
To hell with that.  I’d rather talk about what he did than focus on my embarrassment, because I have no explanation for why I freaked out.
“Your blood?”
“No.”
“I could really use the distraction right now.”  Dropping my shoulders, I sigh.  “Humor me?”
His jaw shifts, and maybe I wasn’t supposed to ask him about his work.  Maybe it’s all classified or the hitman equivalent. Whatever.  I know Ripley’s not a good man.  That he does bad things. But I’ve come to the understanding that no one in the underbelly is good.  So I really don’t give a shit if I’m not supposed to ask.
“I killed a man.”  His eyes are trained on me—one blue and one hazel, neither of them so much as flinching with his confession.
“How?”  
The line of tension that stiffens his shoulders sags, and he smiles down at me.  “Is that where we’re at now, Bandit?  You’re so comfortable around me to ask the details of my kills?”
“You don’t have to give me details.”  I don’t even realize I’m fidgeting until I look down to see the red streak where I’ve scratched my knuckles.
“Shot him.  Square in the skull.”
I keep my gaze glued to my hands, imagining the scenario.  Ripley’s big menacing body standing over the man who begs for his life.  Horrible.  Yet somehow it takes me away from whatever nightmare I suffered moments ago. “Did you burn him with acid?”
“No. He was a merciful kill.”
“Merciful?  Are any of them worth mercy?”  The sneer in my voice takes me by surprise and tipping my head back, I just catch the shake of his head.  “If you were going to kill me, how would you do it?”
Ignoring my question, he jerks his head toward the glass of water in my hand.  “Are you feeling better?”
My cheeks warm with embarrassment, and I’m glad he doesn’t answer.  It was a stupid question.  “Yeah.  It went away.”
“What exactly was it?”
The nervous vibration still skitters along my bones, but I shrug.  “I wish I knew. Ripley?  Are you going to throw me out?”
“Why are you asking that?”
“Because you’ve … not asked me for anything. Is the deal off?”  I lodge my fingers though my hair, gripping tight to my skull.  Teetering on the line of sobriety has fucked with my head and I’ve become deathly afraid of what I’d do for those pills outside of these walls. “I know I screwed up with the drugs.  And I wasn’t … I didn’t want to steal from you.  But I can’t go back on the streets.  I can’t. I already know I’ll die out there. I don’t know what was up with the bleach, but it has nothing to do with drugs. I promise.”
A good ten seconds of silence follows before he says, “Deal’s not over yet.”





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Keri Lake is a married mother of two living in Michigan. By day, she tries to make use of the degrees she’s earned in science. By night, she writes dark contemporary, paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Though novels tend to be her focus, she also writes short stories and flash fiction on the many occasions distraction sucks her into the Land of Shiny Things.

For news, updates and sneak peeks at the sexy cover model candidates for her annual Cover Model Contest, subscribe to her newsletter: 

 

 



 

CHAPTER REVEAL ~ Just Like That by Nicola Rendell

 

 

Coming April 10th

 

Pre-order exclusively via

iBooks HERE

 

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“I bet I can untangle you.”

At an airport baggage claim, Penny Darling looks up from her knotted mess of ear buds to find the sexiest hunk of man she’s ever seen. He’s got a military haircut, a scar through his eyebrow, and he’s rocking a pastel pink dress shirt like only a real man can. But Penny is on a man-free diet so she leaves the airport without succumbing to his delicious double-entendres…or his dreamy dimples.

PI Russ Macklin can’t take his eyes off Penny. As she sashays out of the airport with hips swaying and curls bouncing, he suspects they may share more than just sweltering chemistry. That suitcase she’s rolling along behind her? It looks a lot like his.

Because it is.

When he tracks her down, he holds her bag hostage in exchange for a date. Their night begins with margaritas and ends in urgent care, and Russ proves that Cosmo’s theory about a very particular type of orgasm was oh-so-wrong.

In Penny, Russ finds a small-town sweetheart with a very naughty side. For the first time ever, he’s thinking about picket fences. Penny finds in Russ a loving, caring man who understands the power of massaging showerheads.

But Russ is only in Port Flamingo for a week. They agree it’ll be a fling and nothing more.
Because really, they can’t fall ass-over-teakettle in love just like that…


Can they?

99k words. HEA. Dual POV. No cheating.
Featuring a big drooly dog named Guppy.



Russ

I step off the escalator, and there she is. She’s looking down, doing something with her phone. Air conditioning blows on her from above, making the hem of her purple dress flutter against her leg. And fuck, look at those legs. Look at that body. Look at that woman. Underneath the dress, instead of a bra she’s wearing the top half of a pink bikini, tied at the nape of her neck in a bow.
Welcome to Florida. God bless the Sunshine State.
The place is dismal, except for her. On the walls are 1980s tourism posters, rippling with the humidity. All the guys have Magnum, P.I. mustaches, and all the women look like extras from Baywatch. She’s a vision in the middle of all of it, an oasis at the goddamned baggage claim. I circle the clumps of old people bumping into each other with walkers, like slow-motion bumper cars. As I get closer, I see her face. Her freckles, her slightly shiny pink lips. Her breasts, which are fucking beautiful. But her expression, it isn’t beautiful. It’s seriously pissed. Nostrils flared, teeth set, jaw clenched.
In her hands is a whole big tangle of ear buds, and maybe a phone charger. A big knot of cords, like a wad of cold pasta.
I get closer. Not too close, because I don’t want to be that guy, but close enough to see the small starfish necklace dangling from her neck, and close enough to smell something warm, and sweet. Familiar. Vanilla, maybe. Whatever it is, it’s fucking delicious.
On the wall behind her is a big banner. It’s got a faded old cartoon flamingo, flapping his wings and grinning. Underneath is the caption:
WELCOME TO PORT FLAMINGO! HOME OF THE FIRST AIR CONDITIONER!
No shit. Because it’s hot, and I don’t mean like ordinary summertime hot. I mean hot like the time the sauna malfunctioned at my gym and turned all the drywall in the locker room into oatmeal. She doesn’t look hot at all though. She looks cool, and soft, and beautiful. Just the thing I need. Like a vodka soda after a long fucking day.
I set my shoulder bag at my feet and take off my suit jacket. Her braid comes down over one shoulder, the curl at the bottom nestling into her cleavage. I roll up my sleeves. “I bet I can untangle you.”
She looks up at me. Her eyes are deep blue and sparkling. A smile starts to pinch her cheeks. The end of the charger swings between us. “I’m okay. Got myself into this mess, got to get myself out of it.”
“Sometimes two is better than one.”
She smacks her lips at the cords. “Sometimes.” She pulls hard on the plug end, making the wires tighten even more. “You’d think I’d learn to keep that little plastic box that comes with these, but oh no, every—” She tugs. “—single.” Tugs again. “—time.”
Granted, she’s not exactly in need of rescue from a burning building, but no way am I going to stand here and watch her struggle, no fucking way. Without another word, I start undoing the end of the tangle that’s nearest me, and I watch that smile of hers get bigger. She doesn’t look at me, but I see a dimple, and she bites her lip.
Still focused on the knot, she says, “Let me guess. You’re not from around here, are you?”
Can’t imagine what gave me away. Maybe the fact that I’m the only guy in the building wearing slacks and actual shoes. “Here on business.”
She looks me up and down. “What kind of business? FBI?”
Fuck. Not the first conversation I want to have, definitely not. Also, I don’t know a single fed who wears pants this nice. “Private business.”
“Hmmm.” She eyes me more mischievously. “Tall, dark, and a military haircut. Something tells me you’re not here to do some competitive bass fishing. “
Oh man. Cute. Really cute. “No, I’m not.”
Slowly, the tangle comes undone, until we’re in the middle together. Reminds me of that scene in Lady and the Tramp.
But before I can say anything more—like, for instance, I’m down for 20 questions, as long as it’s over a drink—the buzzer on the carousel roars to life, as loud as a tornado siren. The crush of people starts to tighten around the conveyor. She winds the three sets of ear buds and the cord around her palm. From the pocket of my bag, I take out the plastic case that came with my ear buds and hand it over. “There.”
She laughs through her nose. “I’ll be okay.”
“I insist.” I press it into her hand, and her eyes meet mine.
“I’ll bet you do.” She looks away as a blush covers her cheeks.
The bags start to rumble off the conveyor. For one long second, she watches me, smiling. Sizing me up. The little curls around her face tremble in the air conditioning, and I’m about to say You, me, a pitcher of margaritas, tonight when she looks away and hoists her purse up on her shoulder.
“That’s my bag,” she says. “I should get going. Thanks for…untangling me.”
She steps away and threads her way between a handful of old ladies in walkers. I know I should help her, I know I should grab her bag, but holy fuck look at that body.
She grabs her bag herself and flips up the handle.
“Give me your number. Let me take you out for dinner.”
Her smile dissolves into a scowl. “You married?”
I shake my head slowly. “I’m a lot of things, but married definitely isn’t one of them.”
“Separated?”
Shake my head again. “Nope.”
She takes her starfish charm between thumb and forefinger and loops the chain over her lip. “Under any restraining orders? Involved in a complicated love triangle that your Match.com profile describes as an open marriage? Divorced five times and counting? Polyamorous?”
Whoa. This girl’s got to find a new dating pool, stat. “Promise. I’m Russ, and what you see is what you get.”
Zip-zip-zip goes her necklace.
“Just a drink.” I lift my hands out between us, to say C’mon. “Maybe dinner, if I make the cut.”
She blinks hard a few times and she drops her necklace charm. “I’m sorry. You’re sweet, but I can’t.”
Well, fuck it. The first time I try to get back in the saddle in ages and the goddamn thing slides right down onto the ground again. I respect it though. I don’t want to overdo this, so I give her a final nod and clear my throat. “Had to try.”
She swallows hard. “I’m glad you did.”
Fuck.
And she’s gone. As she goes, her hips sway with her dress. She works that sashay, as my aunt says, like a fucking pro. She looks back over her shoulder, only once, as she walks through the sliding doors. I give her a wink.
And she fucking winks back.
Jesus Christ.
She takes a left out of the door, which means she isn’t gone yet. Not by a long shot. The architecture does me a favor, and I get to watch her sashay right past the floor-to-ceiling windows. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, not even if I wanted to. She smiles at the sidewalk without looking up, and laughs a little. Like she knows I’m watching her and is feeling pretty good about it.
God, what a cutie. And what a bummer. She was fucking sexy, she seemed sweet, and there was something about her that was up to no good. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it was somewhere between the bikini top and I’m glad you did. But the spark wasn’t all we had in common. I realize, as she finally disappears from view, she also has a bag that looks just like mine.
Medium-sized black Samsonite. Sensible, dependable. Number One Amazon Bestseller in Luggage.
But that couldn’t be my bag, I think to myself as I turn back toward the conveyor. Couldn’t be.


***

It was. Twenty minutes later, I’m the only guy standing by the carousel, and there’s a single black bag going around and around in front of me. It’s exactly the same as mine, except it’s overstuffed and has a pink puff of yarn tied to the handle. Same color as her bikini top and literally hanging by a thread.
It slides to a stop, and the yarn ball swings off the side of the carousel. Tick-tock, tick-tock.
A rattle from the center of the conveyor sounds promising—I was early connecting through Atlanta, so my bag had to be the first one on—but no dice. What comes off the conveyor isn’t a bag at all, but instead one of the baggage guys in big set of protective earphones and a reflective vest. He crawls up through the flap and pokes his head out. He wipes his forehead on his bare leathery shoulder and then looks from me to the bag and back again. “Nice pom-pom, man,” he says and backtracks down the hole.
I glance around for some airport help on this, but all I see is a handwritten sign at the baggage claim desk. Will Return On Monday!
It’s Saturday.
Christ.
As I take hold of the bag, I notice it’s got not one but three “LIFT WITH CAUTION” tags: the first one new, the second one beat up, and the third one halfway shredded, all together the way people keep lift tickets from ski areas. I give it a hoist. The thing is so heavy it makes me grunt like I’m doing a dead lift. With a two-handed lug, I yank it off the conveyor and set it on the ground, wheels down.
Squeezing the roller handle, I pull it up…and it snaps off right in my hand. The arms stick up from the suitcase like the tines of a fork.
I clench my eyes shut and think back to “the most helpful critical review” from Amazon. “Looks like every other bag on the planet. Sh**ty handle.”
Touché. But it is what it is. Which is her bag, hopefully.
I wheel it along to a bank of benches, by some old beat-up phone booths, lining the far wall. I open up the ID pouch and read:

PENELOPE DARLING
125 E. BEACH POINT DRIVE
PORT FLAMINGO, FL 34102

I bite down on my gum and groan. How cute is that name? Jesus Christ, come on. Penny Darling. What’s more, it’s not a business card or typed up like mine, but written by hand. Her writing is sweet, pretty, and feminine, with big plump letters written in bright pink marker that’s bled into the plastic cover, so they’ve got a haze around them like neon lights. And there, at the bottom.
Her number.
Jackpot.
It might not be my smoothest move, but I’ll take it. I pull my phone from my pocket and give her a call. As I wait for the ringtone, I decide to hell with suave and understated. I want her, and I need her to know it.
But then in my ear I hear, “Mobile Network Temporarily Unavailable.”
Goddamned Verizon, jamming up my plans. So I try to text her instead.

This is Russ.
From the airport.
I’ve got your bag and I think you’ve got mine.
How about that drink?

I hit send, and I’m answered immediately with a row of red exclamation points and four repetitions of NOT DELIVERED. What. The. Fuck.
Then I noticed my cell service flips over from 1 bar, to Roaming, to Searching for service…
I pull my hot pack of gum from my sweaty pocket and take out a second piece. The gum is weirdly melted even before I put it in my mouth.
The options now are pretty simple: I could touch base with the guy who hired me to come down here to the land that Verizon forgot or…
I think about those tan lines, the curve of her hips. That bikini. The glisten on her rosy lips. The way she wrinkled her nose when she smiled.
Why is this even a goddamned question? It’s four o’clock on a Saturday. A beautiful woman is on East Beach Point Drive with all my stuff. And somewhere in this town, I’ll bet there’s a beachside bar with a pitcher of margaritas with our names on it.


 

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Nicola Rendell writes dirty, funny, erotic romance. She likes a stiff drink and a well-frosted cake. She is at an unnamed Ivy and prefers to remain mostly anonymous for professional reasons. She has a PhD in English and an MFA in Creative Writing from schools that shall not be named here. She loves to cook, sew, and play the piano. She realizes that her hobbies might make her sound like an old lady and she’s totally okay with that. She lives with her husband and her dogs. She is from Taos, New Mexico.

Author Links
 

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RELEASE BLAST ~ Salvation’s Inferno by Kat Mizera

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Salvation’s Inferno
by Kat Mizera

is NOW LIVE!

 

“One of the sexiest books I’ve read this year, Dante is one Hot Alpha…
The HEA is just too good. I cannot wait to get my hands on Jamie and Viggo’s story!”
East Coast Book Chicks

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BUY NOW:

Blurb:

Baseball superstar Dante Lamonte is a broken man. Reeling from the horrific double murder that took the lives of his pregnant fiancée as well as his best friend, he drowns in alcohol and sex, but never finds relief.

Becca Hernandez is a sweet girl with terrible luck with men—and worse luck with sex. Her one-night stand with a man who is way out of her league was also totally out of her character. Dante took her out of her comfort zone… she loved everything he did to her, but she knows nothing can come of it.

When their paths cross again, they can’t resist each other. One night of passion turns into much more, but they struggle to get through the bases of this new relationship. Dante’s demons may destroy him, and when details of their less than vanilla night are leaked to the press, Becca stands to lose everything—her job, her reputation and Dante. Love may be their only salvation.

THIS IS A STANDALONE.


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The cover for BOOK 2, Temptation’s Inferno is here!
Check out this incredible sexiness and add it to your TBR now! 

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Release Date: April 18th

Blurb:

Two men.
One threesome.
Zero expectations.

Jamie Teller has had a rough year. After being blackmailed by a teammate, weathering a sex scandal, and being traded to a team on the other side of the continent, he’s overwhelmed and looking for a distraction. A sexy threesome with his burly roommate and his wife wasn’t expected–neither is his sudden attraction to a guy.

Viggo Sjoberg has been openly bisexual since he was 17, but always assumed he would settle down with a woman. When he’s surprised with news he has a child from a past fling, he jumps headfirst into marriage and fatherhood, but his new wife isn’t what she appeared to be. Adding to Viggo’s confusion are the feelings aroused by his seemingly straight roommate, Jamie.

When Jamie moves thousands of miles away, Viggo tells himself it’s over. Until a life-changing event puts the two men on a collision course. Suddenly, Jamie needs Viggo—badly—and Viggo is prepared to do whatever it takes to help. Even if it means he has to give up everything he always thought he wanted.

THIS BOOK IS A STANDALONE.


Check out Kat’s Las Vegas Sidewinders Series!

Las Vegas Sidewinders: Dominic by [Mizera, Kat]

THE FIRST BOOK IS FREE!

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About the Author:

Kat Mizera is a South Florida native. Born in Miami Beach with a healthy dose of wanderlust, she’s called Los Angeles, Long Island, upstate New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Atlanta home. She’s never been able to pick which locale is her favorite, but if pressed, she’d probably choose the west coast.

Kat’s a typical PTA mom with a wonderful and supportive husband (Kevin) and two amazing boys (Nick and Max). When she’s not writing, she’s either scrapbooking or indulging in her second love (after writing) – traveling. Greece is one of her favorite places in the world. She loves that Athens is a big city with a small-town feel. The food, beaches and culture keep her going back as often as possible. She hopes to retire there one day so she can spend her days writing books on the beach.

Kat has been a working freelance writer for nearly 30 years. She sold her first article–a review of a rock concert–for $10 in 1985. Since then she’s been an entertainment journalist, waitress, bartender, legal assistant, food critic, magazine editor, substitute teacher, and sports writer. She also spent some time working at A & M Records in Los Angeles.

As you can guess from her series, the Las Vegas Sidewinders, Kat loves hockey. She is also a freelance hockey writer, covering her favorite team, the Florida Panthers, and any other teams that have an interesting story. The rest of the time, she writes novels: sexy, romantic fiction that she hopes makes you as happy as it makes her. There’s something enticing about hockey players and romance…

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NEW RELEASE ~ Unprofessional by JD Hawkins

 

Unprofessional
by JD Hawkins

Release Date: March 22nd

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Designer: Letitia Hasser from RBA Designs

Model: Christian Hogue

 

Blurb

What happens when the internet’s favorite playboy falls in love?

I have the best job in the world. Date beautiful women and write about it.

But I want to take it to the next level: instead of writing about my experiences make it into an online reality show.

But here is the catch. My boss wants me to share the show with a woman co-host. And he wants that woman to be my best friend and co-worker, Margo.

I’ll date beautiful women and she’ll date hot men. Sounds fair enough.

So now I have to watch her fake date hot men. I used to love going home with a different woman every night, but suddenly this isn’t as fun. Seeing Margo with anyone else is driving me crazy.

And the more time I spend with her working on the show, the less I want to keep our relationship in the friends’ zone.
And the harder it is to stop myself from imagining her bent over the copier.

Things are about to get unprofessional.


 

READ TODAY!

(Free in Kindle Unlimited)

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EXCERPT:

 

“Thank god you live on the ground floor,” I say, as I rummage for her keys in her bag with one hand while keeping her from falling with the other. It’s not that I haven’t been to Margo’s place before, but when we hang out it’s usually at work functions or the occasional bar, and at the moment I can’t shake the feeling that I’m intruding a little.

“You know, you’re really fucking hot,” she slurs, giggling. My cock stirs at the brush of her lips so close to my neck, her warm breath against my skin. I have to shake it off.

“And you’re really fucking drunk,” I reply with a forced laugh, as the key finally catches and I kick the door open.

“No…I mean it,” she says as I step into her apartment, still holding her in my arms. “You’re like…the most beautiful man.”

“That’s very sweet of you,” I say, as I open a few wrong doors (closet, bathroom) until I find her bedroom. I walk in and lay her down on the bed, then pull away, setting her bag on the night table. “You should probably just rest a bit, let it pass.” I unlace her boots and ease them off gently, setting them on the floor before straightening up to go. This feels familiar, although I haven’t carried a too-drunk Margo home from a party and put her to bed since our undergrad years. “You need anything? Water, or—”

“Yeah.” Margo smiles.

“What?”

Instead of answering, she mischievously beckons me closer. I look at her, dress rolling up around her thighs, twisting her body up in the sheets, my imagination starting to whirl a little.

“Come here!” she yelps impatiently.

This could mean trouble—the problem is, I like trouble. I groan and go nearer to the bed.

“Closer,” she giggles, and I’m taken with the smile, the way she grinds into the bed…

“What?”

Her hand pulls on my shirt, her smile goes and instead her mouth is open now, weakened like she’s preparing to kiss me. I could so easily fall into her here, so easily bring my mouth onto hers, put my own hands under her clothes. I can almost taste her, appetite stirring…

Except being a real man doesn’t just mean knowing when to make a move, it also means knowing when you shouldn’t.

“Nice try,” I say, pulling back.

Margo laughs and pounds her fists onto the bed with disappointment.

“But I need to see what’s under your shirt. You still got those Grand Canyon abs, I bet.”

“Ok. That’s my cue to go,” I say, half-out the door. “See you tomorrow.”

“No! Come on! Please! I remember the view was fucking amazing. Just a little peek. A tiny little peek for old time’s sake. Come on, Owen! Don’t be an asshole. You know you want to show it off.”

I look back at her, hand on the doorknob, and find myself laughing.

“Happy now?” I say, pulling up my shirt a little way.

Margo screams and falls back onto her pillows laughing.

“I knew it! Just as perfect as that night you got locked out of the girl’s dorm,” she says, as I close the door and leave.

When I get back to my car, I’m still smiling.


 

 



About the Author:


JD Hawkins
writes erotic romance with modern-classic alpha males and strong, independant women. He currently lives with his wife in Los Angeles, CA. He loves to travel and has lived in many places, including New York City, India and Thailand. When he isn’t writing, JD enjoys surfing, training in Mixed Martial Arts, read
ing and taking naps. He’s always loved making up stories, especially ones inspired by real life.

Connect with JD:

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