An assignment has just turned interesting for GFI investigator Malachi Whitetail. When a shy, mousy woman walks into his local diner, it takes him a minute to recognize her as an employee of the real estate office he’s been monitoring. Not a believer in coincidence, Mal decides a closer look at the short brunette might be warranted. It will be the first, but certainly not the last time, he finds himself coming to her rescue.
Kimeo Lowe leads a pretty quiet existence, which is why, when she ends up a witness to a crime, her curiosity into her boss’s suspected shady dealings gets kicked into high gear. She may not be the most sociable of people, but she’s always been independent and industrious, so when an opportunity to dig a little deeper arises, she doesn’t think twice. It would seem that this time she’s bitten off a bit more than she can chew, and when a freakishly tall Native American Adonis intervenes not just once, she decides sleuthing may be best left to professionals. But it’s a bit too late.
Just when life has settled into a comfortable routine, Kim finds herself dealing with not just one, but two threats on her life. With every turn there are new challenges to face, and Mal is not about to let her face them alone. Not even when he turns out to be no match for her most dangerous enemy.
“I’ll have a chicken salad and a glass of water, please.” Her voice is as timid as her appearance. Like a little mouse, she slipped in behind me and sat down at the furthest booth. Shocked, I tried my best not to display any reaction to her showing up here. I never expected to have one of the people I’ve been keeping an eye on show up at Arlene’s Diner. Sure, it’s popular around these parts, but given that I live in the apartment above and take most my meals here, it feels like more than a coincidence. This is why I’m keeping my back turned and my ears perked.
Arlene tags her the minute she comes out of the kitchen and is taking her order. Fucking chicken salad and water, who lives on that? I’ve had reason to keep her in my sights since taking on this assignment, and the woman rarely eats more than that from what I’ve seen. Seems to feel comfortable in the real estate office she works in, but the moment she steps out, she seems to want to disappear in the shadows. Head always low, never making eye contact and wrapping herself up in that godawful blanket thing—some kind of poncho.
It’s her boss I’m really keeping track of. Gus got a call from the Ute Reservation a few weeks ago. The council had concerns about two farms backing onto reservation lands. The chief mentioned that both had sold within a month of the other through Martin Vedica, the little mouse’s boss, and they had moved out within days. A third farm, owned by an older couple, was being targeted as well. The couple, Ezhno and Tiva Walker, had moved off the reservation some thirty years earlier to raise their family. They didn’t go far, since their property backs right onto McElmo Creek near Finley Canyon, which is on reservation lands. In fact, it is wedged between reservation boundaries and the southern border of Canyons of the Ancients National Park.
Gus asked me to keep an eye out and I have, but with Vedica out of town since yesterday, I’d been using the time to do some online digging. So far, I have come up with little to nothing. Keeping my eye on the stainless steel backsplash behind the counter, I can see in the reflection that her face is turned my way. It isn’t busy in the diner right now, being lunchtime, but there are still a few booths occupied. Still I know they are her eyes burning in my back, and I wonder if she could possibly have spotted me before.
Kimeo Lowe. A rather exotic name for the pretty, but unassuming little thing hidden under layers of dark clothing. Soft voice, soft brown eyes, and from what I’ve been able to distinguish, a soft rounded body. Hardly the description for anyone associated with some kind of nefarious real estate deal, but you never know. Looks can be deceiving.
EXCERPT 2
Kim
The moment Mal walks out the door the reality of what happened earlier tonight sets in with a vengeance. Memories of crouching down in the pitch dark, fists stuffed in my mouth while Martin was being murdered on the other side of the door cause my stomach to roll. So much blood. I barely make it to the powder room where I drop to my knees beside the toilet and heave until nothing is left in my stomach. When I sit back I notice it’s dark, not only in the bathroom but there is no light at all. I can’t remember if I turned the lights on or not. I thought I did. At least in the kitchen, but there is no glow under the door.
The shivering starts up again in my limbs and I’m struggling not to hyperventilate. A noise somewhere in the house startles me and my heart starts hammering in my chest. Afraid to move, I wedge myself further between the toilet and the wall. All I can hear is the sound of my blood rushing in my ears. I squeeze my eyes shut and wrap my arms over my head protectively. When the door opens I make myself even smaller.
“Fuck,” I hear, before I’m yanked up on my feet. I struggle against the big arms surrounding me, but they won’t budge. “Hush, Kimeo. You’re safe.”
The whispered words finally penetrate when a wet nose presses against my hand. “Boo?” The responding licks and distressed doggie whimper pulling me all the way into the here and now. Back into the hallway just outside the bathroom, with Mal holding on tight and Boo pushing his head against my side. I’m home—safe. There are no guys wielding guns here, just Mal and Boo coming back from a walk. Fuck, I’m losing it.
“Let’s go clean up,” Mal’s deep voice rumbles. I finally open my eyes and tilt my head back to find his eyes warm and concerned.
Right. I’m suddenly very aware of the fact I probably have puke-breath. That thought alone is mortifying enough, but add that to my smelly shirt, stringy hair and whatever my face looks like now, and I want the ground to open up and swallow me. Determined to create as much space as possible, I push hard against his chest. He immediately releases his arms and allows me to step back. “I’ll be okay now. You can go home.” I try to make my voice sound firm, but the little hitch in my breath at the end ruins the effect.
“Not happening.” Mal doesn’t seem to have a problem sounding firm. I have no energy to fight him and without another word, I turn and walk to my bedroom, close the door and peel out of all my clothes, tossing them in the hamper on my way into the bathroom. There I turn on the tap until the water runs hot and I numbly step into the shower where I scrub myself raw, the faint light of dawn slipping through my window by the time I’m done.
EXCERPT 3
Mal
“Kimeo, you’ve gotta snap out of this.” At the mention of her full name her eyes finally snap open, looking wild and disoriented. It’s Boo’s soft whimpers from where his head is perched on the pillow next to hers, that seem to pull her back into the here and now.
“What?” Her voice sounds hoarse from the screaming. Turning her face away from Boo, her eyes finally focus on mine and she repeats, “What?”
“You were having a nightmare. Pretty bad from what I could tell. Do you remember?” The confusion seems to disappear from her eyes only to be replaced with horror as she scans my face.
“Oh my God…did I do that?” Her shocked whisper has me raise a hand to my cheek where I feel a slight burn. It comes away bloody and instantly Kim’s eyes fill with tears. “I am so sorry…” Her fingers skim over my face, leaving a cool soothing trail in their wake.
“It’s fine. Just a scratch, honey. You did worse damage to yourself. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Without waiting for an answer, I reluctantly push up from her body and get off the bed, before pulling her off too. My hand firmly on the back of her neck, I guide her into the bathroom where she stares in shock at her reflection.
“I did that?” “Mmm.” I grab a washcloth from the shelf and wet it under the tap before gently wiping her throat while lifting her chin up with my other hand. “It’s not that bad, have a look. Just a scratch,” I reassure her.
“I was in the supply closet and the door opened, but it wasn’t you. Just two eyes behind a mask. He had a knife.” Her body does a full on shiver and against my better judgement, I dump the washcloth in the sink and wrap her tight in my arms. “Just a dream,” I mumble in her hair.
“Yeah, but you rescued me again,” she whispers in my chest before tilting her head back to look at me. “Thank you.”
Fuck me. Those big liquid eyes, plump pouty lips, hell even the red blotches on her nose are impossible to resist. Keeping her gaze trapped with mine, I slant my mouth over hers and on her gasp of surprise, sweep my tongue inside for a taste. Sweet, hot, with a hint of spice—damn. Big mistake.
When I feel the vibrations of her moan against my tongue I know I have to pull back or I’ll lose all control. That moan travels all the way down to my cock and I know there’s no way she missed that pressing in her belly.
Rather abruptly, I push her back by the shoulders. She has a dazed look on her face and I know exactly how she feels. In a last indulgence I run my thumb over her soft bottom lip before completely letting go of her.
“Have a shower. It’ll make you feel better. I’m gonna whip us up some dinner.” With that, I leave a not quite coherent Kim in the bathroom. So much for staying away from her…
This is not going to be a very long, drawn out review but only because there are only so many ways to say how much I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Freya Barker is one of my favourite authors…ever. I adore her writing style and LIKE ARROWS is now my favourite book in her Cedar Tree series. ~ Kez Korner
After reading Like Arrows by Freya Barker I have now added a new author to my “To be read” list. Kimeo and Malachi’s story sucked me in from the start. I love how she had these characters evolve in a way that brought them together as a strong couple with flaws, but who complimented and boosted each other up. ~ Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
I have read all of Freya Barker’s books in the Cedar Tree series and Like Arrows was freaking amazing. The story was fast paced and easy to read. I was hooked from the first page to the last. ~ Goodreads Review
BLP REVIEWS
REBECCA
Pure Beauty. Pure fucking beauty that spoke to my soul, even got me to shed a tear and we all know I’m the unemotional one of this blogging partnership, the one who is all “yeah it was emotional” while my bestie is a sobbing wreck telling me I have no heart or soul! I think the reason this story touched me so deeply is I’ve been Kimeo, without giving away huge spoilers – because nothing is worse than a review that does that – I’ll just say that the lack of control over aspects of your life due to medical issues, if you’ve lived it, hits deep, body issues and how society dictates and judges hits deep, but when an author is as talented as Ms Barker is at real, REAL characters, people you can see yourself actually knowing…. people you can see YOURSELF in, combined with hot as fuck and romantic to it’s very core, then you have a special and haunting story that stands out from the crowd.
If you’ve read From Dust then you know already that darker and emotional is in Freya’s repertoire. If you’re familiar with the Cedar Tree series you’ve met Mal, you know some of his history and difficult past, so may be expecting that different tone to this one, but when you add Kimeo and her story into the mix it’s heart-breaking perfection. Every ingredient that we’ve come to expect is in here- snappy sassy dialogue, recurring characters, family made by choice – as well as blood – with strong loyalties, hot as fuck sex, real issues not sugar coated or dismissed yet done with such sensitivity and class that it adds to the story while not taking away any of the fantasy we read these alpha romances for ……..and did I remember to mention the HOT AS FUCK sex?!?!?!?!?!!
Freya really puts a lot into the cultivation of her characters and, in this book especially, the heroine. She is a woman that you can relate to in so many, if not all ways. We all have our physical drawbacks and a person in our lives that makes us feel inadequate, but when it’s those who should love and support us unconditionally that do this, then the damage is worse. When Kim finds her backbone I was cheering in my head and twirling pompoms!
“It’s no wonder you two have to put up with each other, with personalities that ugly, It’s no wonder I’m the one standing here with a good man, a decent man“ – I lean in for more emphasis,- “and yes, a gorgeous man at my side. There isn’t a man worth his salt who would put up with such ugliness.” Mal tugs at my hand but I’m not done. “You think you can tell from the outside what a person represents? What their life is like? You think you know by just one look? Well feast your eyes as my fat ugly ass walks away with my amazing boyfriend. And in case you were wondering? He’s hung like a stallion and knows how to use it.”
Mal has his demons as we already know and as the relationship unfolded I was thinking they could fix each other, this is gorgeous, then right at the last quarter of the book a twist gets thrown in that had me unable to put the book down, turning the pages in horror, crying (never, never happens) and thinking no HEA was going to be, WTF is going on, NOOOOOOOOO…………………….
I should have trusted Freya because we get a HEA and it’s beautiful.
Real.
Warts and all.
Life, Karma, Beauty. Total fucking perfection.
“I love all of you Malachi. Each part, every nuance, the dark, the light, the protective, the vigilant, the tender, the wounded-I love them all. Each separately and all combined. There isn’t a part of you I want to hide from or want hidden from me. I love you.”
(**I normally call dibs on all of Freya’s boys but for this one I’m calling dibs on Boo!)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
TRACY
I’ve loved and felt an empathy with the gals from the Cedar Tree series – Freya’s characters are so very real and face troubles and issues that we all know happen in real life – but while reading LIKE ARROWS I really felt a connection with Kimeo.
There’s a few reasons for this I suppose – any and all of which I’m not gonna count out in this review as her issues are a huge part of the story – but I know that there are a lot of people who will understand where our heroine is coming from and the challenges she faces on a daily basis.
Kim was so very down to earth, pulled into a mess that was not her own making and that’s where she first got the interest of Malachi. Now there’s an alpha character who knows how to take care of someone – both physically and emotionally – though Kim was as good for him as he was for her! Now, there’s one thing I’ve got to admit – the first couple of times that Mal came across Kim in person I could happily have gutted the bugger – regardless of what his intentions were!!! – but as hoped, he did redeem himself and I have to say that he’s now one of my top 2 leading men from the CT series.
So much emotion and feeling was experienced throughout the read. We had action and adventure and intrigue that left us not knowing what the hell was gonna happen. A couple of scenes where I could only cheer Kim on and wish that she had that strength and belief in herself always! There was the much loved appearance of family (choice & Blood) and friends – the camaraderie, care and affection between that group of people is heartwarming. The heat, attraction, passion and sexual tension between our main characters was intense.
All in all LIKE ARROWS was one helluva read and I absofuckinlutely adored it!!!
If you’re already a fan of the Cedar Tree series you’ll love this latest instalment. If you haven’t yet visited their little corner of the fictional world you’ll be able to read this wee treasure as a standalone BUT to fully enjoy all that is Cedar Tree and Freya Barker, I’d suggest you take the time to read the previous books in the series before you pick up Malachi & Kimeo’s book.
I rate LIKE ARROWS 5 stars – but this still isn’t enough in my opinion!! *****
About The Author
Author of the popular Cedar Tree series, as well as the critically acclaimed standalone “From Dust,” Freya Barker is driven to make her stories about ‘real’ people; with characters who are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills, and some hot, sizzling sex in their lives.
Recipient of the RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for best first book, “Slim To None,” Freya has hit the ground running. She loves nothing more than to meet and mingle with her readers, whether it be online or in person at one of the signings she attends.
With her kids grown and out in the world, Freya has poured her creative energy into spinning story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!
In the last six months, Ashley’s life has been one disappointment after another. She walked in on her boyfriend with another woman, leaving her needing a new place to live and a mountain of debt. As if that wasn’t enough, her ex convinces her that his infidelity is her fault for being unadventurous in bed.
Deep down Ashley has always had the desire to be wild but has been held back by her own insecurities. She’s desperate to break free, but she’s fearful of how people will judge her if they know her inner desires. She wants nothing more than to lose herself in sex that pushes her to the limit, but she hasn’t found anyone she trusts enough to take her there until she meets Tanner.
Tanner doesn’t trust anyone outside of his inner circle easily. The infamous, media proclaimed playboy, quarterback is tired of people using him for money, connections and to get their fifteen minutes of fame. Determined to protect his image and himself, he makes sure to keep most people at arm’s length until Ashley is thrown into his life. He’s inexplicably drawn to her, and she needs his help in more than ways than one. But to help her, he’ll need to let her in.
There’s an immediate attraction and connection that neither can deny, but can both of them get past their inhibitions and find what they are looking for in each other or will everything backfire in their faces?
Unrestricted (UnInhibited #2)
The emotional conclusion to Inhibitions….
Earning forgiveness isn’t easy. Especially when you can’t forgive yourself.
How do you begin to right your wrongs?
What do you do when you realize you love someone but you’ve already pushed them away?
What happens when one foolish decision alters your entire world forever?
How can love recover after devastating heartbreak and betrayal?
What happens when everything becomes unrestricted?
Freed: An UnInhibited Novella (UnInhibited #2.5)
The road to happily ever after hasn’t been easy for the Garrisons. Blissfully married with a baby on the way, this should be the happiest time in their lives. Except, Ashley can’t fully escape the dark shadows of their past. Will Ashley and Tanner be forced to endure more heartache or will they finally be freed?
“WOW! This book was fantastic from beginning to end. I absolutely love Ashley and can relate to her on so many levels.”~ Inhibitions (UnInhibited #1) ✯✯✯✯✯Star Eye Candy Bookstore
“I felt like I was watching a movie in my head. Her plot was consistent and well thought out, her characters show true depth, and her subject matter was enthralling. High 5 for a FANTASTIC, BRILLIANT series! 5 Stars for BOTH books.”~ Unrestricted (UnInhibited #2) ✯✯✯✯✯Star Swoon Worthy Books
“I loved this series. The writing style, the flow. It was just a great ride. A spinoff series is coming starring secondary characters, Alex & Quinn. I highly recommend this series and obvi, this book, to all readers of the romance genre.”~ Freed (UnInhibited #2.5) ✯✯✯✯✯Star Summers Book Blog
Kimberly is a stay at mom of four crazy beautiful children. She lives in New Jersey with her husband of ten years and enjoys every minute of her never dull life. She loves a good book that is impossible to put down and you will mostly likely find her reading in her downtime, unless of course, there is a football game on.
Please join Dylan Cross for the Finish Strong! year-end event Featured is a free copy of Dylan’s book, Amanda’s Descent,
plus games, camaraderie and prizes!
Amanda’s Descent
Amanda’s Descent follows the beginning of Amanda’s adventure, showing us how she’s transformed from an ordinary housewife to a sex slave…
When her husband goes out of town on business, bored housewife Amanda decides to “get her flirt on” with the cable guy, treating him to a morning of uninhibited, full-figured fun. But the repairman’s service call is immediately followed by a visit from her husband’s friend, Craig–who confronts Amanda about her indiscretion.
In exchange for Craig’s silence, Amanda reluctantly agrees to give him an encore performance. But it quickly becomes obvious that he has no intention of letting the curvy redhead off the hook so easily. He makes one demand, then another, and Amanda has no choice but to comply. Before she realizes it, the young housewife finds herself descending into a world of exhibitionism, humiliation, bondage and submission…
Reviews
“Not for the faint of heart… what starts out as a simple dare turns into a full blown series of sexually charged scenes… until you are out of breath, and in some serious needs of your own…”
–Heidi Lis (Amazon reviewer)
“My husband called this book stroke material when I told him what I had just finished reading. This book is super HOT and down and dirty!”
–Tanya Rae Walling (Amazon and Goodreads reviewer)
“…although I did feel sorry for Amanda…I would have had a go at her myself…”
Good things may come to those who wait, but trouble waits for no one…
Cheating is a dealbreaker…or so Mandy has always thought. But when she catches her husband getting some “strange,” she realizes how hard it is to cut and run, or even file papers. She agrees to a month of counseling, which will give her time to grieve the loss of her marriage before she has to tell the world—and the kids. Then she meets Adam, who gives her a hunky, if mysterious, shoulder to cry on, and that thirty-day waiting period seems like an eternity.
Adam has no problem confessing that he’s watched Mandy from his window for months as she runs by his house. If he told her why, though, she’d freak out for sure. He knows they’ve got a future together, if he can think of a way to explain his past. And he’s sure the rat-bastard who cheated on her is putting the moves on her again, but he won’t be the revenge guy. The month-long cooling off period she agreed to is lasting forever, and might just be indefinite, if trouble keeps getting in their way.
CONTENT WARNING: Eccentric old lady pushing salt-of-the-earth advice, bossy big brother, kooky counselor, super-secretive hunk, and perfect justice served amidst adult situations and language.
“I was captivated from the moment I started and didn’t want to stop. Can there be something on the other side of this, perhaps something better? …a look at infidelity, the havoc it wreaks and life during and after. For those who like their fiction viable, I highly recommend it.”— Manic Readers
“…the story was full of emotion and feelings from the characters. The author did a wonderful job of pulling this reader into the midst of what was going on and keeping my attention until the very end. …the author’s writing talent is superb and the story itself very well written.”— Long and Short Reviews
“Piper had me within the first paragraph. I started reading this at late at night and couldn’t let go of the story. Mandy is ‘every woman.’ She is approachable, she has flaws, and she tries to be a better person. …had a few laugh out loud moments, a lot of stomach churning “how can that happen moments” and lots of ups and downs. I will definitely check out Autumn Piper’s other works.”~ Night Owl Reviews
Born and raised in itty-bitty Rifle, Colorado, Autumn Piperstudiously avoided trouble…but is now inclined toward it, particularly in her novels. She thinks the best things in life are funny, and the runners-up, romantic.
An admitted carb addict, Autumn writes, edits, manages two teenagers, one husband and many supersize houseplants, and does the cooking and cleaning when forced to.
*Warning – Due to adult content & language this series is not intended for anyone under the age of 18.*
Book 0.5 in the Declan Reede: the Untold Story Series
Strap in, get ready to start your engines and see where it all began.
From an early age, Declan Reede’s only goal was to race in the ProV8 Championship Series. One thing he couldn’t anticipate was that a blistering kiss shared with his best friend, Alyssa Dawson, might derail his plans.
While he knows things between them will never be the same, it’s impossible to predict just where the road will take them, or how rocky it might get.
Will he decide to fight for love or follow his dreams?
I was given an ARC of this story for an honest review. This is the prequel to Decide. It is the whole beginning of Declan and Alyssa’s relationship. They are in their last year of high school and are trying to come to terms with what they want in their future. Declan is bound and determined to be the youngest Pro-V8 champion in the history of the sport and Alyssa is wanting to go to uni and have a family. Their lives change in just one night. It goes from the best night ever to the worst night ever all because of words that should not have been said. Can this relationship work? Will they be able to come back together or will their life be torn apart forever? This was a very interesting book. I was unsure of my reaction to this because I am much older than the main characters, but I was able to put that aside and enjoy the book. I would like to see where this story goes. Good, solid start.
Book 1 in the Declan Reede: the Untold Story Series
Hold on tight, stick to the racing line, and watch for the corners. Four years after making the decision to leave his home town behind, all of Declan Reede’s dreams have come true. Unapologetically foul-mouthed, driven, and well known for his off-track antics, his success seems unstoppable. At least until Queensland Raceway and a chance sighting of the girl who once held his heart. Now, getting around the track seems an impossible battle as he struggles to return to his previous form. With his career racing downhill faster than his V8 on Mount Panorama, there’s more than just his reputation on the line. What will it take to put the brakes on his decline?
I was given an ARC of this story for an honest review. Declan has made it. He was the youngest champion of the ProV8 Tour, but now his life is falling apart. He can’t sleep, he can’t focus, he has DNF’d (Did Not Finish) multiple times in a row and he is pissed. There is a reason for it though. He caught sight of the girl he loved a long time ago in the stands at a race with another man. But you see, Declan is no longer that same 17-year-old boy and Alyssa is not that same 17-year-old girl. Four years had passed since that horrible night of their last formal. The night Declan threw everything away. He has spent that time trying to rid himself of her by sleeping with so many women that he couldn’t come up with a number if he tried. He is wild an out of control. For a while, it was drugs, but he kicked that, now it’s drinking and partying. Clubbing and women. Until the Bathurst 1000. The endurance race he is running when his world comes apart. His team is all set to win when once again, while behind the wheel his mind wanders to Alyssa. Yup, you guessed it. DNF #6. This is the story of how Declan is going to get his life back. Will he confront the demons of that poisoned relationship. Will he be able to move on and get his mind right? How is he going to confront his past and will he come out unscathed?
Warning, there is a huge cliffhanger. I definitely did not see it coming!
Good writing, solid characters. Would definitely like to read more of this series.
Michelle Irwin has been many things: a hobbit taking a precious item to a fiery mountain; a young child stepping through the back of a wardrobe into another land; the last human stranded not-quite-alone in space three million years in the future; and a time-travelling madman in a box. All of these feats and many more were achieved through her voracious reading. Eventually, the cast inside her mind took over and spilled onto the page.
Michelle lives in sunny Queensland in the land down under. A lover of love and overcoming the odds, she primarily writes paranormal and fantasy romance.
Failure wasn’t what Cassidy Sinclair expected when she got married … but that’s exactly what she got.
Instead of getting her happy ever after she is struggling to adjust to living back with her unconventional parents and the chatter of small town gossip.
Desi Cardwell was never known for his interpersonal skills and being back in small town Tolvey, sending the rumour mill into overdrive, was not what he wanted for himself.
Both forced home after a decade away, Cassidy and Desi begin an unlikely alliance when she agrees to train with him at his newly opened gym.
Desi is mysterious, guarded and borderline rude but what he lacks in charm he more than makes up for with his hard body and devilish good looks.
Desi does not need anything to keep him in Tolvey longer than necessary.
Cassidy needs something mind-numbing to help her forget her ex.
Both beautifully broken can they find in each other a light in the dark?
Hayley Oakes again writes a beautiful story with characters that you’ll find are easily loved even with all of their dark spots. I highly recommend this to everyone! ~ Amazon USA review
The twists and turns along the way made sure this wasn’t your run of the mill romance novel. Highly recommended. ~ Amazon UK Review
You put these two together and they fit perfectly – they’re two beautiful persons just a little broke. Add in an average new age family including a wacky sibling, some fun friends and your set for a great story and I have to say loved callain! Beautiful writing and a story that will keep you turning pages ❤ ~ Goodreads Review
It tugged at my heartstrings, made me smile, made angry and made me cry. A enjoyable roller coaster read – just simply amazing! Highly recommended. ~ Amazon UK Review
About The Author
Hayley Oakes is a wife to a Manchester United fan and a mother to a young daughter both require patience and a sense of humour. She enjoys reading angst ridden romance and writing stories that she would love to read. She loves post-apocalyptic movies, TV and anything 80’s.
Marketing hotshot Monica Kaur has put her big-city life on hold to help bail out her brother’s failing business. Now she’s got three months to plan and promote a rodeo, the first her tiny hometown has ever seen.
To ensure the rodeo’s success, Monica enlists a local hero, a rancher’s son who’s made a name for himself on the bull-riding circuit. Problem? She can’t stop daydreaming about the cocky bastard—and all the things she longs to do to him out behind the chutes.
Professional bullfighter Dean MacKinnon is home helping his family while his father fights cancer. Haunted by bad memories, jaded by love, Dean finds escape in a no-strings-attached go-round with brainy, sexy Monica, whose close-knit Sikh-American family would sooner run him out of town than see her with a notorious rodeo Romeo.
In private, Monica and Dean play as hard as they work. But as the rodeo draws near, that clean break they promised each other is getting more and more hung up in the rigging.
Here is an exclusive excerpt from COWBOY RESURRECTION:
“So,” he whispered against her lips. “What do you want?”
“I don’t know.” Her voice was barely audible, a ghost of air carried away by the wind.
“I think you know.” He kissed her again, and before she knew what was happening, he’d pulled her down to the ground with him. The dry grass and soft blanket of flowers crinkled like hot paper beneath them. He sat down and she straddled him, her knees crushing petals that looked like orange fire in the desert.
Dean took off his hat, placed it on the ground, and traced a trail of hot kisses down the side of her neck. Pleasure ran a circuit through her body, firing her nerve endings as her lust rose to high tide.
She dug her hands through his dark hair. It was silky, long enough to curl. When he began to lay hot, open-mouthed kisses on her throat, she grabbed his hair in her fingers and tugged at it gently. A low moan rumbled in his chest.
His lips found hers again. They quickly established a rhythm of breath and tongues that pulled all consciousness from her brain. She was flying, far too high on Dean to realize she was riding him, rubbing herself against the hardening bulge in his jeans.
He broke their kiss and rested his forehead against hers. He let go of her waist and dragged his fingers through her hair, clasping it and gently pulling it back until her lips parted with a gasp.
“Tell me what you want.” His deep voice sent shivers up her spine.
She was silent, paralyzed with pleasure.
“Tell me what you want, Monica,” he said again. His firm tone made her insides clench. Already she could feel how wet she was, how ready.
“You need it. Same as I do.” He touched her face and skimmed his fingertips down her throat. “Don’t you?”
“I do.” She was still. “But no one can know about this.”
“I understand.”
“Dean, I’m serious. Not a soul. Promise me.”
He nodded. “I promise.”
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Check out the first book in the Cowboy Cocktail series by Mia Hopkins!
About COWBOY VALENTINE:
Forget chocolate and flowers. This homegrown honey is all the sweetness he craves.
Small-town life is nothing but a waiting room for eighteen-year-old honor student Corazón Gomez. Work and school leave little time for love, but with a full-ride Ivy League scholarship and a one-way ticket out of the boondocks, who needs it? The answer appears on Valentine’s Day when her old cowboy crush ambles into the ice cream parlor where she works, inviting her to go on a late-night ride in his truck. For the first time she wavers between staying on the straight and narrow, and going off-road with the handsome heartbreaker. After four years working on ranches all over the country, Caleb MacKinnon is back on the family farm helping out his mom and brothers while his father fights cancer. The one bright spot: smart, funny, and wickedly sexy Cora. From the start, they both know this blazing-hot love affair can’t last. But when autumn comes and Cora has to leave for the East Coast, Caleb must find a solution to keep himself—and his heart—from falling apart.
Warning:Contains hard, cherry-poppin’ sex in a pickup truck and a cowboy charmer who talks dirty in two languages.
See what people have to say about Cowboy Valentine, Cowboy Cocktail #1 by Mia Hopkins!
“Mia Hopkins one of the most exciting new voices in red-hot contemporary romance. Add her to your must-read list. Now!” -Samanthe Beck, USA Today Bestselling Author
“Mia Hopkins’ sexy cowboy hero and sassy bookish heroine burn up the pages from the moment they lock eyes.” – Cat Johnson, New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
“Beautifully descriptive…hot, sexy and full of yearning!” – Delilah Devlin, New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author
“I love this author’s writing style; her prose is beautiful, and I can definitely see myself checking out her future work. I’m wondering if Caleb’s brothers will feature in future books?” – My YA & NA Book Obsession
Author Bio:
Mia Hopkins writes lush romances starring fun, sexy characters who love to get down and dirty. She’s a sucker for working class heroes, brainy heroines and wisecracking best friends.
When she’s not lost in a story, Mia spends her time cooking, gardening, traveling, volunteering and looking for her keys. In a past life, she was a classroom teacher and still has a pretty good “teacher voice” and “teacher stare.”
She lives in the heart of Los Angeles with her roguish husband and two waggish dogs.
The Woodsman Belle Scarlett En route to become an elderly marquis’ arranged bride, Lady Lily Rouge’s carriage becomes stranded in an Enchanted Forest rumored to be populated by loup-garou and le gobelin, where cursed creatures are consigned until the spells that bind them are broken. A huge black wolf stalks Lily, forcing her to shelter in a rustic cottage. In the morning, she comes under the protection of the cottage’s owner, a ruggedly handsome (and naked ) woodsman. He’s determined to seduce her before sundown, even if it means giving the nosy pixies fluttering outside the window an eyeful. Sir Marrok Ulfang has been impatiently awaiting the arrival of the comely maiden in the red cloak for over a millennium. Now he has one day to win her heart and claim her first sexual surrender, or he’ll remain a wolf shapeshifter, alone forever. But spirited, saucy Lily has a mind of her own, and the daylight is fading fast. Meanwhile, the one who cursed Marrok lurks in the forest and will fight to keep the couple from leaving together alive
EXCERPT
Once upon a moonlit October night in the Enchanted Forest, where cursed beings are consigned until the spells that bind them are broken…
Lady Lily Rouge’s musings were broken when her swaying carriage slowed and came to a dead halt in the road. Lily opened the door and leaned out.
“Driver! Why do we stop?”
No answer from the front of the carriage.
A chilling howl sounded, mere feet away in the darkness. Lily instinctively recognized it for what it was, a demand for surrender, ownership…possession. In answer, she felt a gush of fresh moisture cream the tops of her inner thighs. What was happening to her?
Then a man screamed.
Lily stared hard through the growing fog and watched in shock as her portly driver’s shape disappeared on foot through the marshy landscape dotted by eerie will- o’-wisps.
An enormous black creature chased him, running on all fours.
She tried wildly to recall the old, superstitious stories about this wood. Something about a huge wolf, dark as the night, who walked as a man in daylight. He was consigned by a mystical something or other to reside inside an Enchanted Forest because he committed some infraction until…until… Lily could recall no more.
She shifted uneasily. Well, she could not sit here forever. The beast could return at any moment and then she would be trapped inside for who knew how long. She would have to find a way out of this damnable wood herself!
Lily did not know how to drive a carriage with any skill, but she was an excellent horsewoman and knew she could make swift time on horseback. She would have to ride astride and bareback, she decided. Her heavy skirts and petticoats, beautiful as they were, would merely hamper her efforts. Her pantalettes would have to serve as riding breeches and her sleeveless, boned stays that overlaid her linen undershift would top off the outrageous outfit.
In a trice, she struggled out of her doublet, bodice, cumbersome skirts, bum roll and petticoats. She wrapped herself once more in the warm, red cloak and raised the deep hood over her handsomely dressed auburn curls.
Lily returned her attention to the carriage window and scanned the inhospitable night. Nothing moved outside. Now was her chance.
She took a deep breath and tried to open the carriage door. Fear made her stiff, chilled fingers clumsy as she fumbled with the handle. She needed something to stop her hands from shaking. She glanced around at the stacked pieces of baggage and plucked a flask of wine she spied poking through the opening of a lidded, woven basket Cook had packed for her journey.
Undoing the stopper, she tipped a healthy swallow down her throat. Dull warmth spread through her and burned her cheeks. All at once, she could not quite recall why she had been so frightened a moment ago. Tucking her liquid courage back into the food hamper that dangled from her elbow, Lily muttered an unladylike “Merde” and alighted from the carriage.
Her red cloak swirled around her ankles as she struggled forward and began to unharness Buttercup and Lucifer. Lucifer was the swifter mount and Lily could only hope poor Buttercup could evade the ravening wolf until she could return with a hunting party. A large one, she thought maliciously.
“Then I shall have the last laugh on that filthy brute. I will not be intimidated by a simple-minded wild beast!” she announced grandly to the night while her fingers worked the leather straps.
The sullen fog refused to answer.
For good measure, she added a deliciously forbidden, “Bollocks to wolves!”
The carriage suddenly swayed, as though jolted by a mild wind. Both horses beside her suddenly whinnied, straining their harnesses.
Lily felt a chill go through her that had nothing to do with the temperature.
Slowly turning her head, she looked up at the coachman’s seat. Staring down at her with mesmerizing eyes the color of a robin’s egg was the biggest, blackest wolf that Lily ever imagined could exist.
Lily and the huge wolf regarded one another for a timeless moment. The wolf quirked its head to one side and looked her up and down. It was almost as though it was taken aback by the sight of her, poised for flight, wearing only a bright cloak that parted down the front to reveal her snug bustier and lacy pantalettes that lovingly hugged the curve of her hip and legs. Its red tongue panted at the sight of her luscious frame.
Lily glared up at the wolf and edged back a step. Then two. Then three. Maybe she could make a run for it.
As though reading her thoughts, the wolf leapt from the coachman’s seat and stalked toward her, stopping only a couple of paces away. It had situated itself between her and the horses, and seemed to be waiting for her next move.
“Shoo!” She tried waving it away with one hand. “Scat! Begone! Go away!Bad dog!”
The wolf replied by sitting back on its haunches and parting its jaws in a feral grin. Had Lily not known such a thing to be beyond the realm of possibility, she would have sworn the animal was amused by her feeble attempts to drive it off and was in fact laughing at her!
She tried to edge carefully around the black beast toward Lucifer. A deep, warning growl rumbled from the wolf’s throat. Lily froze, poised for flight but not daring to move for a full minute. Then she began edging backward.
As she stepped off the narrow, rutted road, her slippers sank into the muck up to her ankles, but she never took her eyes off the impressive creature that impassively watched her retreat.
When she was a few yards away, she turned and fled, dashing as fast as she could across the uneven ground. She ran on and on, without hearing any sound except for the pounding of her own heart and the flap-flap of her red cloak that billowed behind her.
Suddenly, Lily found her way barred by a second, smaller wolf, this one white. A she-wolf who bristled with a malevolent aggression that was focused intently on Lily. Lily halted in her tracks, breathing hard from the sense she was somehow the sole center of the she-wolf’s hatred. But how could that be? She had done nothing to this animal to warrant such fury.
The white wolf advanced, snarling viciously. Lily cringed and waited for the attack she knew would come. The she-wolf sprang. Lily screamed.
A blur of black fur hurtled into the clearing and threw itself onto the white wolf, broadsiding her in mid-leap. The two beasts crashed as one to the ground. The she-wolf felt the sting of the black wolf’s teeth and bounded off through the dense trees with a yelp.
“This cannot be happening.” Lily was not aware she had gasped her thought aloud until the black wolf swung his great head in her direction. His intent gaze was once more upon her. He prowled toward Lily. She closed her eyes tightly, waiting for the first bite.
– A Four Cups rating! Review at Coffeetimeromance.com
By day, she’s a mild-mannered story consultant, film producer, and award-winning screenwriter in Lost Angeles. By night, she assumes her super-secret identity as Belle Scarlett, author of futuristic and paranormal romances with a high sizzle factor. Aiding her in her quest for kick-ass, magical romance and out-of-this-world, passionate-ever-afters are her trusty sidekicks, Tall-Alpha-Blue-Eyed Boyfriend, upon whom her heroes are based, and Evil Feral Cat, upon whom her villains are based.
Belle is a proud member of The Naughty Literati, a cadre of saucy romance writers who publish hot romance short story anthologies five time per year.
Official genre of book: Contemporary romance (sports)
Trevor Collison knew success early, then flamed out. His struggles with addiction nearly cost him his hockey career. Now sober, Trev is trying to make the most of his last chance in the NHL, ironically back in the same city where he started his minor league career—and first fell in love.
Danielle Greer is a single mother of a chronically ill child, working long hours to pay mounting medical bills while still trying to give her daughter as much enjoyment as possible out of a life that may be cut tragically short. One thing Kaylen loves is hockey, so Dani is thrilled when some of the Generals players make a visit to the children’s hospital to cheer up the patients—even when it brings her face to face with a man she never expected to see again.
When Kaylen’s condition takes a turn for the worse, Dani is desperate for help—help that Trev might be able to provide. But will she risk everything by asking?
Chapter One
The little girl might have been completely bald, but it didn’t detract from her overall beauty in any way. She wore sapphire studs in each of her ears, her eyes were the color of the sky on a crisp, clear summer day and her smile was so bright and sunny, it could warm a room. Then there was her laugh—her laugh was absolutely infectious.
It surprised Trevor Collison to hear such an obviously very ill child laugh so energetically, but maybe it shouldn’t have. After all, she had an NHL superstar making faces at her and generally acting like a total goofball. Nikolai Brantov was a natural with kids, and so was his girlfriend, Meryl Johnson. It made perfect sense why Meryl, the daughter of the San Antonio Generals owner, had been trusted with the task of establishing the fledgling Young Generals program, designed to bring hockey awareness and skills to local kids, and why she recruited Nik to help her.
Less clear was why anyone wanted Trevor to be part of the program. He wasn’t sure himself why he agreed to be involved, other than knowing his image needed a major boost. Fresh out of rehab and having his contract bought out by his last team, Trevor signed a one-year contract with the NHL’s newest expansion franchise, happy to have one last chance to prove he could be a productive player. Assuming he could keep his nose clean.
He hadn’t touched cocaine in almost a year, and he only drank alcohol occasionally. He also didn’t pick up cheap women after games anymore. Instead, Trevor went home to an empty apartment and thought about how different his life was now, as opposed to twelve years ago when he’d started out in the minors, paying his dues for San Antonio’s American Hockey League team, before making the jump to the NHL with the Ottawa Senators. How ironic was it that he was back here now, in the city where it all began, playing out his last chance?
If Trevor flamed out here, Europe likely beckoned, but for far less money. He wanted to make this work, and since he currently stood at third on the team in scoring, Trevor was pretty confident he could. There was more to succeeding here than simply playing well on the ice, though. It was important to be involved in team activities throughout the community, such as visiting sick kids to try to cheer them up a little, which was why he found himself in the pediatric cancer ward of the San Antonio Children’s Hospital watching his teammate make faces at a patient.
“This is Trevor,” Nik said to the girl. “He plays on my line, the other wing position.” Together, with team captain Colton Tremblay, they comprised the Generals’ top line and the main reason the team remained in the playoff hunt in its inaugural season, with less than a month left in the regular season.
“I know who Trevor is,” the young patient said. “He’s my favorite player on the team.”
How the heck did I get that honor? Trevor wondered as he approached the bed. “It’s nice to meet a fan,” he said, extending his hand. “What’s your name?”
“Kaylen.” She gave him a limp handshake, and Trevor wondered if her medical treatments had tired her out. Probably. In spite of her circumstances, though, she remained upbeat. “And I really am your biggest fan, even if I’m not very big. I’m totally going to be there when you guys play in the playoffs.”
If the team got there, and if she lived to see the day. Trevor hated to think that way, but this was a pediatric cancer ward, after all. “That’s great,” he said, trying to sound optimistic. He was there to try to cheer her up, even if he himself couldn’t stop thinking about the cruel hand life had apparently dealt this beautiful young girl. “You must really like hockey, then.”
“She’s a huge hockey fan. She watches all of your games, and I’ve kept the recordings of the best ones so she can watch them again while she’s doing her treatments.”
The voice came from the doorway of the hospital room, and Trevor turned around to face a woman with dark hair that fell just to her shoulder and the same striking blue eyes as the patient. Eyes he’d never forgotten, even though it had been more than a decade since he’d last seen her. His voice almost stopped in his throat as he said her name. “Dani.”
***
Danielle Greer found herself staring at the past. A past she never intended to revisit. She’d been a hockey fan once, back when the AHL was in town, but when the team left San Antonio and relocated to upstate New York, Dani didn’t miss them. As a single mother raising a very ill child, she had other priorities, and hockey wasn’t one of them. But when the game returned to her hometown in the form of the Generals, her daughter took an immediate liking to the men of the ice. Kaylen didn’t have much to be happy about these days, with the chemo and radiation treatments seeming to be losing effectiveness, so Dani took her to the home games whenever she felt up to it, and allowed her to watch the rest on TV. Still, Dani never expected a face from her past to be standing two feet away from her, even if Trevor’s mug greeted her from a highway billboard every day as she drove to work.
When he’d left town, his NHL dream finally a reality, Danielle hadn’t planned on ever seeing him again. Now, here he was. He was still handsome, no doubt about that, but there was a tiredness to his expression, as if his best years were behind him. At only thirty-three, Dani hoped that wasn’t true. In spite of what happened between them, she still wished the best for him. She just didn’t plan on getting close to him again. She couldn’t take the risk anymore.
The official website of the San Antonio Generals. The Generals are a fictional NHL expansion franchise based out of San Antonio, Texas and featured in the Men of the Ice series by author Michele Shriver.
The Men of the Ice books are contemporary romance novellas about the Generals players and the women who love them.
More information about the books, as well the team, organization, and news and events can be found on this site.
Visit the official Facebook page of the San Antonio Generals. The Generals are a fictional NHL expansion franchise based out of San Antonio, Texas and featured in the Men of the Ice series by author Michele Shriver.
Michele Shriver writes women’s fiction and contemporary romance. Her books feature flawed-but-likeable characters in real-life settings. She’s not afraid to break the rules, but never stops believing in happily ever after. Michele counts among her favorite things a good glass of wine, a hockey game, and a sweet and sexy book boyfriend, not necessarily in that order.
Book: Tainted Love Series: Sinful Souls MC #3 Author: Amo Jones Genre: MC Romance Hosted by: Francessca’s Romance Reviews
Synopsis
*You do not need to read the other books in this series before reading this one, recommended though*
Kalie-Rose is that girl. She’s that girl who calmed the storm within Ade Nixon. She attained the unattainable. She silenced his demons with her innocence.
Ade Nixon is the Vice President of Sinful Souls MC. His Hulk-sized body covered in tattoos and piercings – along with his don’t give a fuck attitude – screams, “I’ll suffocate you in your sleep”. And he would.
Kalie-Rose is a popular dancer living in Hollywood Hills, she dances for some of Hollywood’s elite. After giving Ade her viginty on a silver platter two years ago, a wedding brings them back together. Even if only for a short amount of time.
*This book contains upsetting content, which may set of triggers.
I attempt to open my eyes, but they refuse to open. All I feel is the pounding in my head. Boom, boom. Where is that sound coming from? Where am I? I try to open my eyes again, this time succeeding. Everything is black. “What the fuck,” I mumble. I think over my jumbled thoughts, trying to think of the last thing I remember. “Vicky’s wedding,” I whisper. “Kal? Kal, is that you?” “Alaina?” I gasp in shock. “It’s me, babe,” she quietly replies, her voice hoarse and dry. I attempt to move off the bed, but I feel like an anchor is weighing me down. Using all my strength, I push myself up and stand off the bed, only to fall to the ground when my legs give way. “Fuck!” I scream out in frustration. “Shhh Kal, if they hear you they’ll come back.” I begin crawling across the cold hard concrete floor. “Alaina? How long have we been here?” “I don’t know. You’ve been out for a few days. I lost count. I’d say a week, maybe more.” I pause my shuffling. “How have I been asleep for a week?” “They’ve been drugging us with something. More you than I. They found me fascinating, being Zane’s old lady.” Continuing my shuffling, I keep my hands feeling around in front of me. Feeling cold chains, I follow them up until they lead me to one of Alaina’s hands. They are cold and stiff, she feels like death. I keep feeling around her until she winces. “What did they do to you, Lain? Who are they?” She pulls her arm out of my grasp. “It’s going to be okay, we just have to be strong until the boys arrive.” The metal door swings open and a dark shadow looms. I swallow down and look at Alaina. Now there’s light shining through the doorway, I can see her. I wish I didn’t. I wish I never looked her way. My stomach coils over, as little more than bile spews out of my mouth.
Holy man tattoos – first if you can stop licking the cover then you can move onto the story. I clicked this one up because it was free on Kindle Unlimited and now .. I will be clicking up the ones I have missed. ~ Goodreads Review
I really enjoyed the twists and turns. I was surprised when the danger turned dark. The suspense had me tense with worry as I anticipated the outcome. I got attached to the support characters too, especially Carter and the girls. I was very invested, rooting for Ade & Kalie, spouting my relationship advice in their deaf ears. ~ iScream
favorite MC book, this book has by passed my favorite all time MC books and book boyfriends, (Good bye Horse, good bye Ruger, and good bye Scott Cole) Ade is my main man, and I’m sure I will not be alone in this once it is out. ~ Goodreads Review
This is the first book I have read by Amo Jones and it absolutely will not be my last. It’s definitely an exciting ride from start to finish. The book is a stand-alone, even though it is part of a series, and you do not have to read the previous two to understand and enjoy the story being told. ~ Goodreads Review
About The Author
A little bit about me: I ‘m the mama bear to four little kiddos, two girls and two boys. I’m also a wife-to-be to my partner of ten years (We were high school sweethearts, without the high school). My little (Big) family are my rock, and I am so lucky to have them with me through it all. I am from New Zealand! Born and raised in a small town called Rotorua. It’s a beautiful city, just smells a little. I’m currently living in Australia on the Whitsunday Coast (Great barrier reef) where we hope to settle down for a long time. I love the beach, and margarita’s and wine. Don’t forget the wine. Chinese food is the best food. And one day I hope to travel the world, preferably the US, because I’m obsessed with it. I would travel now, but my bank account is like… “Dude, no.” So I’ve put that in the goal bucket. I also like to think of my self as a professional Cinderella. The type who wears Nike’s, reads erotic novels, and writes about total bad ass men covered in tattoos. I love all my beautiful readers, you have kept me going. You are my inspiration to keep writing, with all your kind words and reviews. You are all amazing, and I write for you. That’s enough Yap’n from me. See you all in Wonderland x
Book Loving Pixies 
