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RELEASE DAY BLITZ ~ The Wicked North by Gina Danna
Celebrate the release of Gina Danna’s THE WICKED NORTH
From USA Today bestselling author, Gina Danna, comes a historical romance full of deceit, betrayal and passion that ignite the flames of love between two lovers on opposite sides of a war.
Giveaway:
1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon Giftcard
& 3 winners will receive an ecopy of choice from Gina’s backlist
About The Wicked North:
Bound by duty and honor to wear the Union blue, a Southern-born West Point officer fights his own desires and the need to protect the woman he abandoned, he disobeys his orders to find her, as the Army of the Potomac marches toward her family’s home near Richmond.
She has the guts and willpower to protect her home from the hated Yankee aggressors, but when that traitor to the South appears at her door, she’s torn between wanting to shoot him and to be held in his arms again. Can she forgive him for their past indiscretion or does she turn him in to be executed, a traitor to both sides?
In the summer of 1862, her family’s plantation becomes the personal battle ground between them as deceit, betrayal and passion ignite the flames of love and hate that burn brighter than the roar of the guns and rivers of blood surrounding them.
Available at: Amazon
Exclusive Excerpt:
Rose Hill Plantation, Silvers’ residence. Parlor game of the 19th century called “Kissing the Corners” – a kissing game where a gentleman was stationed in each corner of the room and the ladies went to get a kiss. It was a ‘forfeit’ to redeem for losing in an earlier game. Emma, our heroine, finds herself faced with kissing Jack, the man she so wanted to kiss but this was her first time kissing. Would he kiss her or not?
Next was Jack. She walked to his corner, gazing into his glowing emerald eyes.
“Emma,” he whispered.
She heard voices behind her. The others had already finished. She was the last. Turning her head slightly, she looked for Caroline. She caught a glimpse of her sister in her buttercup yellow dress, talking to Abigail, Charles and the twins.
“I’m right here, Emma,” Jack said, drawing her attention back to him.
He was too handsome. She wanted to both kiss him and avoid him. A tingle in her belly spread up to her nipples.
When Jack smiled his devilish smile, Emma felt as though she would turn into a puddle at his feet. Her mouth went dry as she stood there, frozen.
“Why didn’t you ever write to me?”
The question rattled her, bringing her back to her senses. “I sent you a letter, but I never received one from you.”
He quietly chuckled. “I sent you a letter, hoping you’d respond.”
“I never received any correspondence from you,” she said.
“Hmm, I never got yours either.” His low drawl reached inside, soothing her. “But,” he continued, “I believe you owe me a kiss.”
She opened her mouth, but not a sound came out.
***
Jack stood still. She fidgeted. The silk dress clung to her breasts and her narrow waist. Her cage crinoline maintained a respectable space between them, regardless of how much he wanted her closer. He put his hands at the waist of her skirt and felt her tremble. She bit her lower lip. Oh, how he wanted to soothe that lip.
With a gentle tug, he pulled her closer. The motion unbalanced her, and her hands sought his arms. When she still didn’t lean up to kiss him, he brought her even closer, his eyes fixed on her lower lip as her teeth released it.
He wouldn’t meet her halfway. This could be the only time he’d have the advantage, and he didn’t want to waste it. Because Emma’s feet were slightly lifted from the floor, she gripped his arms tightly.
He brought her to him. As he kissed Emma, his tongue traced her lower lip before his mouth enveloped hers. He wanted her to open her mouth, and he prodded the crease between her lips, coaxing her with his tongue. She parted her lips but pulled her head back as his tongue invaded her mouth.
She tasted like strawberries and wine. It was an intriguing taste and he wanted more. She felt soft and warm against him. He knew he was pushing the limits of the game and propriety, but when he glimpsed her eyelashes feathered on her cheek, he almost growled. Abruptly, Jack released Emma and set her on the floor, his hands remaining at her waist. He could feel her shiver as she looked into his face, her eyes wide open. He smiled.
Within a second, she raced away from him as fast as she could in a ladylike manner. Jack smirked. She had enjoyed his kiss. With his head cocked to the side, he walked to the sideboard and poured himself a brandy.
***
When Emma had stepped away from Jack, she did everything within her power to control her nerves. Her lips felt swollen. His hands had left an impression on her waist—an impression that wasn’t his to make. Her next and last corner was Billy’s. He grinned at her as she tried to maintain a steady gait, but the memory of Jack’s kiss tingled down her spine, making her feel hot and cold simultaneously. Stop it! She gave her head a small shake and stopped, inhaling a large breath before returning Billy’s smile.
But she wanted to kiss Jack.
No, what he did was take advantage of the situation. How vulgar of him! Why did she crave more?
“Is something wrong, Emma?”
Conflicting thoughts clouded her mind, and she didn’t realize she was already in front of Billy. Politely dismissing his concern, she said, “No, no, nothing is wrong.”
Billy’s head lowered slightly for her. “Kiss me, or pay a higher price forfeit.”
Emma was curious about what the higher price might be, but, after Jack’s advances, she ignored it. Composing herself, she met Billy’s lips part way.
He didn’t play with her lips nor press to enter her mouth. In a very gentlemanly manner, he gave her a quick kiss and bowed away. No fire came from his lips as it had from Jack’s. If anything, she was gravely disappointed that Billy hadn’t tried to kiss her like Jack had. She should have been glad, but she wasn’t.
Like a good girl, she placed her hand on his sleeve and let him escort her back to the others. Caroline enticed them all to start charades. Jack was with them, a devilish grin on his face that Emma had the sudden urge to slap. When his glance fell her way, excitement raced through her veins, and she had the strangest sensation her nipples were tightening. Tamping down the fury of emotions Jack caused, she spent the rest of the evening at Billy’s and Caroline’s side and away from Jack.
About the Author:
A USA Today Bestselling author, Gina Danna was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has spent the better part of her life reading. History has always been her love and she spent numerous hours devouring historical romance stories, always dreaming of writing one of her own. After years of writing historical academic papers to achieve her undergraduate and graduate degrees in History, and then for museum programs and exhibits, she found the time to write her own historical romantic fiction novels.
Now residing in Texas, under the supervision of her three dogs, she writes amid a library of research books, with her only true break away is to spend time with her other lifelong dream – her Arabian horse – with him, her muse can play.
Find out more: Website / Facebook / Twitter
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EXCERPT REVEAL ~ Cleat Catcher by Celia Aaron and Sloane Howell
Coming June 30th
Add to your Goodreads shelf now.
What happens when an unrepentant Cleat Chaser meets the player of her dreams?
Nikki Graves has a history of going through the baseball roster with an eye for talent–the kind of talent that keeps things spicy between the sheets. But, once she meets Braden Bradford, catcher for the Ravens, her talent scout days are done. He’s the one.
Braden has never met a woman like Nikki, and he can’t get enough of her smart mouth and big heart. But life isn’t always as direct and certain as the connection between Braden and Nikki. When family objections and career trajectories begin to crowd the plate, will Braden be able to keep his catch of a lifetime?
Kasey frowned, but then her expression lightened. “Say, Nik, you never gave me all the details from the lez experience you had in college. This game is boring as fuck. Entertain me with it.”
“It wasn’t really an experience. I just kissed a girl a little bit when I was drunk.” I shrugged as the first Ravens batter, Ramirez, strode to the plate.
“Not bad.” Kasey crossed her long, tan legs at the knee.
The guy sitting next to her gave her an appreciative up and down look, but her head was turned towards me so she didn’t see it.
“How much tongue are we talking?”
I closed my eyes and tried to remember the fall of my sophomore year, but it was hazy at best. I had way too much fun in school. “I think there was tongue, and she definitely felt me up over my shirt. I can’t remember if she ever went under, but I doubt it.”
“Nice.” Kasey set her beer down. “I think I need a reenactment. You know, to test you. Make sure you’re not running a game on Braden, pretending to be straight.”
I rolled my eyes as Ramirez swung and missed, strike one. “Not a chance. Besides, everyone knows I’m a Penis Flytrap.”
“Come on, just a little kiss.” She leaned closer as Kyrie snickered on my other side.
“No way.” I shook my head. “Braden would kill me.”
“I think Braden would be all about it. Just a couple of girls. One, his girlfriend, the other, like a sister to him. No harm in the two of us being friendly. Right, Kyrie?”
“Don’t drag me into this. I’m an innocent bystander.” She grabbed some more popcorn as Kasey’s confident grin surfaced.
I tried to ignore the hot blond trying to get into my panties. The next pitch was high and outside. Ball.
“Just a little experiment. That’s all.” Kasey’s tone turned wheedling. “It won’t count.”
“How many girls have you tricked into opening their legs for you like this?” I stared at her, not even close to falling under her spell.
She frowned. “Tons. What gives with you?”
“I love Braden.”
“Me too.” She moved closer, her big, pretty eyes open wide like the wolf’s in Red Riding Hood. “So how about you give me a little tit action as a sign of our love for him.”
Kyrie snorted.
“A little help here?” I turned to her.
“Nope.” She shook her head, a giggle falling from her lips. “I don’t get between Kasey and her prey.”
“Come on.” Kasey wrapped a lock of my hair around her finger.
I tried to keep the amused smile off my lips. “I’m trying to watch the game.”
Ramirez finally made contact, hitting a line drive and trucking it to first base.
Kasey didn’t even look. She kept her gaze on me.
I sighed. “Oh my God. If I say yes, will you leave me alone?”
She squealed. “Yes, I promise.”
“Fine, you can have a tit grope.” I’d taken many a tit grope from Kyrie, so this was nothing special.
She reached for the hem of my tank top.
“Hey!” I smacked her hand away. “Over my shirt and for no more than five seconds.”
“That’s it?” she pouted.
I tossed my hair behind my shoulder. “It’s that or nothing, you goddamn sexual predator.”
She smiled and licked her lips before focusing on my chest. “Fine.”
“Get to it.” I leaned back and dropped my elbows to the armrest, giving her maximum chest exposure.
She rubbed her hands together like she was Mr. Miyagi readying to fix Daniel-San’s leg. The guy sitting on her other side couldn’t take his eyes off us. I wondered if he was going to cream in his jeans.
“Here we go.” She hovered her hands over my chest as Kyrie shook with laughter next to me. “Luscious Nikki tits in three, two, one.”
“Hey!” Braden’s voice cut through the air.
I looked up and Kasey and I were on the kiss cam for the entire stadium to see.
“Kase!” I leaned forward, but that only pressed her palms to my tits.
The crowd went silent, and Kasey took the opportunity to give me a good squeeze. I smacked her hands away as the crowd went from silent to roaring with approval. I hid my scarlet face in my hands.
“Goddammit Kasey!” Braden was at the net yelling. “I’m going to kick your ass!”
I peeked through my fingers as a grinning Easton strode up behind him. “Come on, man. They’re just dicking around.”
“Kasey is a woman-stealer. She’s the devil!” He pointed a finger through the netting at Kasey, who was doubled over with laughter.
“I’m sorry.” I shook my head, my hands still covering my face.
“It’s not your fault. It’s the blond Satan sitting next to you!” The corner of his mouth twitched. He was holding back a smile.
Celia Aaron
Celia Aaron is the self-publishing pseudonym of a published romance and erotica author. She loves to write stories with hot heroes and heroines that are twisty and often dark. Thanks for reading.
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Sloane Howell
Sloane Howell lives in the Midwest United States and writes dirty stories. When not reading or writing he enjoys hanging out with his family, watching sports, playing with the dogs, traveling, and engaging his readers on social media. You can almost always catch him on Twitter posting something goofy.
Visit his web page http://www.sloanehowell.com to sign up for his mailing list to get updates on new releases, promos, and giveaways. Thanks for reading.
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