Category Archives: Excerpt

Title: The Last Wolf
Series: The Legend of All Wolves #1
Author: Maria Vale

Pub Date: February 6, 2018
ISBN: 9781492661870

For three days out of thirty, when the moon is full and her law is iron, the Great North Pack must be wild.

If she returns to her Pack, the stranger will die.

But if she stays…

Silver Nilsdottir is at the bottom of her Pack’s social order, with little chance for a decent mate and a better life. Until the day a stranger stumbles into their territory, wounded and beaten, and Silver decides to risk everything on Tiberius Leveraux. But Tiberius isn’t all he seems, and in the fragile balance of the Pack and wild, he may tip the destiny of all wolves…

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LETTER TO THE READER

Dear (Potential) Reader,

There is so much vying for your attention, I’m grateful you’ve read even this far.

I know I’m asking a lot from you.

I’m asking you to take time with a new writer when there are so many great ones already out there.

I’m asking you to take a chance on a new direction in a well-loved genre, in which the wolf is not a vicious beast to be subjugated and feared, but rather the human form is a useful tool for protecting the wilder self.

In this reworking, werewolves fall into two categories: Pack, who must be wolves for three days out of every thirty—self-aware wolves, but not magic, any bullet can kill them. And Shifters, who don’t have to change and so remain human, the apex predator, rather than wolf, the maligned and despised outsider.

Still like any romance, its foundation is in the growing love between two characters: the worldly half-Shifter Tiberius who hates the wolf inside him as bestial and monstrous. And the unworldly Silver, who is fully Pack and believes her wild self to be sacred.

Silver is a runt with a displaced hip when she is a wolf and in a society that determines position by fighting wild, this means she is at the bottom of the hierarchy—the last wolf. Tiberius, however, discovers real strength in her perseverance and fierceness. For her part, Silver recognizes something about him: that by denying his wild, Tiberius has sown the roots of despair.

But this is not only a love story between two people, it’s also a love story about the Great North Pack, because despite our fascination with lone wolves, it is the pack that really defines this most social of all animals.

I imagined the Great North as something beyond family or community, something tight-knit and loving and brave and frightened. And intensely vulnerable. I imagined, like most embattled societies, the pack would be very conservative, with a traditional culture, a history, a language that was part of its identity. I chose to base that culture loosely (very loosely) on the world of 9th century England, partly because I love the sound of the language of Beowulf. To me, it is gruff and beautiful and haunting, like a wolf’s howl. But also because 9th century England was a place of great insecurity. One never knew when Northmen might show up and destroy everything you loved.

It was the Great North’s first Alpha, Ælfrida, who forced her pack to change. With humans decimating the forests of England, she dragged her pack from the Old World to the vast forests of northern New York, she re-wrote laws in order to allow new wolves to join their bloodlines, she forced her wolves to leave their isolated territories, so that they could learn human ways and protect the Pack using human law.

What results is a society that is both human and decidedly not, both harsh and loving, severe and tender. The way I imagined wolves fighting daily for their lives would be.

I have loved every minute of researching and writing these books. I can only hope that you will enjoy reading them.

Stay wild,

Maria

EXCERPT

The day of the first waxing crescent of fall is when all of the wolves who live on the Homelands traditionally run the perimeter and make sure that our land is properly marked before the ground freezes and damaged posts become hard to replace.

The entire Pack is wild. Barking and wagging tails, they lick each other and jump around each other, their ferocious jaws open and gentle. They chase mice through windrows, their hind legs scratching leaves into a brightly colored explosion high in the air, so that the pups can twist and turn and catch them in snapping teeth as they spiral down.

Not me. I have to pull on heavy muck boots over thick socks with jeans shoved inside. And I won’t mark our territory the way wolves are supposed to. I will mark it on an iPhone 6 Plus, crammed into the big pocket of a thick orange vest. All because Ti refuses to phase and John doesn’t like it.

“He tells himself he’s human,” John says. “But if he lies to himself, what makes you think he’s not going to lie to us?”

So because I am Ti’s schildere, I have to stay in skin too. Keep an eye on him.

“I mean, what were you thinking?” I ask as Ti fits the Outlast cap over his clipped skull. “When you came to a bunch of wolves asking for protection. That you’d just keep on being a human? Was that your grand plan?”

“I didn’t have a grand plan. What I had was a hole in my stomach, a vague set of directions to my mother’s pack, and a need to survive. I changed long enough to fight; I never thought you’d be asking me to give up my humanity.”

“No one’s asking you to give up your humanity, but if you refuse to admit what you are, it is going to rise up and bite you in the ass.”

“Well, how about you?”

“Me? I love changing. I—”

“I know you love changing. You do it all the time. The second Sten doesn’t need your thumbs, you evaporate, and there’s nothing left but clothes hanging from a branch. I may be a crappy wolf. But you… You’re a crappy human.”

I cringe, because he’s right. I’ve never been happy in skin, but then those stupid fire fairies burrowed into my body all those days ago, and that spark has caught fire and burns so fierce that now when I walk beside him and hear his quiet, low voice or look into those gold-flecked black eyes, my tendons strain and my muscles coil and my lungs open up and my blood beats hot and fast. The only way I know how to deal with need is to run hard and far until I collapse, unable to feel anything at all.

A brindle pup barks worriedly at my feet. All of the other wolves have disappeared, fading like a whisper in the woods.

“I know, Leelee. We’re coming.”

“She’s going with us?” Ti asks.

“We’re supposed to take her along. Help her learn the farther reaches of the Homelands.” Leelee scampers on ahead, leaping awkwardly over a huge downed log and sliding down the other side, her fur covered in the sooty brown decay.

Ti clears it in one stride and stands close, not helping me exactly, but I know if I falter, his big shoulder is there for me to grab on to. I make it by myself, but I appreciate his silent gesture.

Leelee watches, her head cocked to the side, as I take a running jump over one of the numerous small, mucky streams that crisscross our land. I slip down the other side, my foot sinking into a soft bruise in the moss. She yips and worries, waiting for me to pull my boot out with a dull sucking sound.

I lift her up and give her an open-jawed kiss on her ear, but she sees a squirrel and won’t stop squirming until I set her down.

“No farther than the Stones, Leelee.”

When we finally catch up, she’s clambering over the variously sized rocks that form rough circles around the ancient central stones. Over the years, the circle has encroached farther and farther into the forest, surrounding the trees.

Leelee marks one of the stones.

“What is this?” Ti asks.

“It’s, um…the Gemyndstow? The memory place? But we just call it the Stones.”

“Like a graveyard?”

“Graveyards are for bodies, aren’t they?”

“Yes.”

“So, no. Coyotes eat our dead. That’s why we call them wulfbyrgenna. Wolf tombs. The stones are only for wolf names and the date of their last hunt so that we can remember.”

When Ti crouches down and looks at one near the front, Leelee runs up to him and looks too, trying to figure out why it is so interesting.

As soon as he stands, she marks that one too.

An ill-advised squirrel runs across the outer rim of the Stones, and Leelee turns quickly to run after it, the wind tickling her fur and the scent in her nose. I know that feeling of taking it all in—moldering pine needles, owl pellets, borer beetle, tree sap, two-year-old porcupine den, sassafras bush—until the scent of prey hits you right in the back of the throat and everything tenses and you chase, even if your tummy’s little and full and all you really want is for the thing, whatever it is, to escape so you don’t have to eat it, but still you can’t help but hunt.

She peels off after her squirrel, looking behind to make sure we’re watching.

The squirrel chitters at her from the safety of a maple. Ti stares, his hands fisted by his sides, as Leelee scampers and bounds and falls on her back and twists her little legs in the air, her belly dotted with leaf litter. A tiny furrow cuts through his usually impassive brow, and his mouth, while still tightly closed, turns down a little at the corners. His wild—that seductive scent of crushed bone and evergreen—radiates thicker now, and when I touch his arm, he jolts as if from a waking dream and blinks down at me, looking in this moment like a lost boy.

About the Author:

Maria Vale is a journalist who has worked for Publishers Weekly, Glamour magazine, Redbook, the Philadelphia Inquirer. She is a logophile and a bibliovore and a worrier about the world.

Trained as a medievalist, she tries to shoehorn the language of Beowulf into things that don’t really need it. She currently lives in New York with her husband, two sons and a long line of dead plants. No one will let her have a pet.

Visit her website.

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BLOG TOUR ~ Feels Like Home by Jennifer Van Wyk

Feb 9

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Feels Like Home, an all-new emotional standalone
from Jennifer Van Wyk is available NOW!

FLHome_print_web

Andy Simpson never expected to be raising his teenage twin sons alone.

Then again, he also never expected to walk into his house and see his wife with another man. In their bed. Or that it wasn’t her first time.

Bitterness threatened to wrap around his heart, darkening every part of his life.

But a brightness he wasn’t even looking for entered their lives and wouldn’t let it take hold.

Christine Jameson knew all about being a single parent. But she was holding a secret. A secret she wasn’t willing to allow anyone to find out. One she’d held tight for years.

But one look at Andy, and she knew that she needed to be honest with him. That he deserved to know he wasn’t alone.

They both needed friendship. Needed someone who understood, who had compassion without judgement.

What they didn’t imagine was for it to become something more.

That they would come to share something they never thought they would experience again.

They didn’t expect for it to… Feel Like Home.

Excerpt:

I reach across the cushion and grasp her hand in mine, squeezing once. “I’m sorry you went through that.”

She squeezes my hand once in response. “I’m sorry you’re going through it now.”

“Thank you.”

“So, want some advice?”

“Eat more lemon pound cake?”

She releases my hand and sits back, giggling, and again I’m hit with how much I love hearing the sound of her laughter. “Well, that, too. I could even say it’s healthy because it’s made with Greek yogurt.”

“You trying to tell me something?” I tease her.

She smiles, a cross between sad and sort of resigned.

“My advice? Be happy.”

“What’s that?”

“Be happy. I promise you. First of all, it will drive Heather nuts knowing you are moving on without her. But second of all, and this is the most important part of it, you’ll be happy.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“I’ve had a lot of practice. When Todd was at his sickest, we practiced a lot of happiness. Happiness because we had good days, or we had quiet moments to spend as a family when he could barely get out of bed. Happiness when we were able to celebrate holidays. After he cheated, one of the things we discovered was that we could either give in to the ugly that it brought on, or we could move on. We moved on. And he had to do the same. We both had guilt. Guilt for how we got there. I questioned if I wasn’t giving him what he needed. He questioned everything. I’m not going to lie… it’s hard, and most days you’ll have to dig deep, but you’ll get there. Trust me. The light is always better than the dark.”

I lay my head on the back of the couch and turn to look at her. She’s so gorgeous it almost hurts to look at her. I’ve always thought so, though I would have never done a thing about it. She has always been the mom who turned heads.

“What was he thinking?” I murmur.

“Pardon?”

“Todd. What was he thinking?”

“You mean…”

“When he stepped out.”

She doesn’t respond, just simply smiles before biting her lip and looking away, her long, dark, silky hair falling over her shoulder. She ducks her head and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her, though I don’t know what I’m apologizing for. Almost admitting how gorgeous I think she is? Her husband cheating? Her husband dying? Me laying my shit out for her? All of it, probably.

“I’m sorry Heather’s such an asshole,” she replies with a shrug.

I bark out a laugh. “She is definitely an asshole.”

“She forgot rule number one.”

“What?”

“Never mind… it was in a book I read.”

“Ahh. Good book?”

“More than good.” She gives me a ghost of a smile and reaches over to grip my hand, squeezing once before letting go. “So, what are you going to do?”

“Honestly? I have no clue. I need to find a place for the boys and me to stay, talk with a lawyer… that part I know for sure. I can’t stay with her. As sad as it sounds, and maybe it’s kind of a little mean, but I think we fell out of love a long time ago. We’ve been hanging on by a thread for years. I’m sure part of it was my fault, but still…”

“It’s no excuse. This has nothing to do with you, Andy. This is all Heather. You’re a great guy. It’s Heather’s loss.”

“I appreciate you saying that.”

“It’s the truth.”

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BLP REVIEW ~ Tracy

Feels Like Home was a really good, well written and engaging read by Jennifer Van Wyk and while it was my first read by the author, it won’t be my last.

I loved the development of the relationship between Andy & Christine and how they both fell hard but took their time and thought about their kids and how their changing feelings would affect both of their families.

The story had a load of feels. While for the most part it was positive and uplifting, there were times of heartbreak and sadness and at one point I seriously wanted to do damage to Andy for his pigheadedness and lack of faith in Christine!

Reece, Aiden and Bri – Andy’s twin boys and Christine’s daughter – were fabulous characters and during the gossip-mongering the twins seemed to have more sense than their father!

For me this is a great 4* read that I definitely recommend you give a look.

About Jennifer:

From the Ground Up was Jennifer’s first published novel and now that she was bitten by the writing bug, has no intention of ever stopping. Jennifer makes her home in small town Iowa with her high school sweetheart, three beautiful, hilarious and amazing kids, one crazy Jack Russell terrier. This is where her love for all things reading, baking, and cooking happen. Jennifer’s family enjoys camping, boating, and spending time outside as much as possible. You’ll be her best friend if you can make her laugh and follow up with asking her what to read next.

When she’s not writing, you can find her cheering the loudest at her kids’ sporting events (read as: embarrassing them), sipping coffee or iced tea out of a mason jar with her Kindle in her lap or binging on Netflix.

Connect with Jennifer:

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RELEASE WEEK BLITZ ~ The Bastard’s Bargain (The O’Malleys #6) by Katee Robert

Feb 9

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Celebrate the Release of
THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert delivers the final installment in her sizzling O’Malleys family series, hailed as “The Godfather meets Romeo & Juliet.” In THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN Dmitri Romanov must use his legendary focus and control to stay one step ahead of everyone else in the ever-shifting power plays of New York City.

What readers are saying:

“The Bastard’s Bargain presents a seductive escape and a fulfilling fantasy for that bad boy craving a girl can never outgrow.”
—Isha at Book Likes

“Keira and Dmitri are everything. What develops between them is raw and carnal and wanton. The way they need each other and the way they connect is beyond sexy. It’s something deep and dark and heartbreakingly beautiful.”
—Eva, Goodreads Reviewer

Meet Dmitri and Keira!

Add THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN to your TBR pile on Goodreads!
Then keep reading to get a sneak peek excerpt and to enter the giveaway for a $50 Amazon gift card
and Dmitri Romanov scented candle!

Title: The Bastard’s Bargain
Series: The O’Malleys #6
Author: Katee Robert

Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Publisher: Grand Central/Forever

Synopsis:

Married to the enemy

When Keira O’Malley was a child, she used to picture her perfect wedding. The flowers. The dress. Her husband. But nothing could have prepared her for saying “I do” to Dmitri Romanov-cold, domineering, and always one step ahead of everyone else in the ever-shifting power plays of New York City. She agreed to his bargain to secure peace for her family, and she may want the bastard more than she’d ever admit, but she’ll be damned if she’ll make this marriage easy for him.

Dmitri knows better than to underestimate Keira for one second. Molten desire smolders between them, a dangerous addiction neither can resist. But his enemies are already on the move, and he needs every ounce of his legendary focus and control to keep them alive. Keira could just be his secret weapon-if she doesn’t bring him to his knees first.

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The Bastard’s Bargain Excerpt

Dmitri Romanov didn’t permit himself to breathe a sigh of relief. This was only the first step in a path that could potentially span years. It didn’t matter. Keira was here—was his. He had time.

He watched her look around the inside of the town car, cataloging everything with those witchy hazel eyes of hers. The faint scent of pot filled the car, giving evidence to what she’d been up to when he called. The woman was a mess, but he’d known that from the moment he met her. Dmitri didn’t do projects. He preferred to be the one holding all the cards—it allowed him to anticipate how the people around him would act in any given situation.

He’d never been able to anticipate Keira. Not from the moment she picked his pocket and walked away from him as if she didn’t give a fuck about the danger he posed to her.

Likely because she has a goddamn death wish.

He’d deal with that, just like he’d deal with the rest of Keira’s issues. In time.

Right that moment, time was the one thing they didn’t have. Keira’s oldest brother would be returning to Boston within hours, and Dmitri fully intended to marry her before Aiden realized she was gone. It was significantly more difficult to oust a wife than it was a fiancée.

He had Keira now. He wasn’t going to let anyone take her.

She kicked her feet out, propping her chunky black boots on the seat. The long line of her bare legs drew his gaze up to her tiny sleep shorts. They were barely more than underwear, hugging her hips and ass. Her shirt wasn’t much better, for all that it was long-sleeved. It revealed a slice of pale stomach and was fitted enough that he had absolutely no doubts about the fact that Keira wore no bra. Her small breasts pressed against the fabric, and she shivered beneath the weight of his gaze.

Get control of yourself. He leaned forward and nudged her boots back to the floorboard. Taking Keira was part of the plan—fucking her in the backseat was not. “There’s no need for an adolescent tantrum.”

She laughed, the sound rough and pain filled. “God, would you listen to yourself? You just showed up at my window to lure me into the night—to a chapel—and now you’re bitching about my shoes on the seats? Russian, you have your priorities seriously out of order.” She flicked her long hair off her shoulder. She’d dyed it a harsh blond that seemed designed to highlight how unhealthily skinny she’d become in the last year.

She’s spiraling.

Not anymore.

“Our current situation is no reason to throw propriety out the window.” He sounded stuffy, and he hated it, but with her sitting so close, wearing clothing she’d just been sleeping in…Dmitri dragged in a breath. “Keep your shoes on the floor.”

“Or what?” She turned to face him. The move pulled her shirt even tighter against her chest, revealing the faintest outline of her nipples. Keira saw where his gaze went, and gave a bitter smile. “All the games, all the bullshit, and that hasn’t changed.” She leaned forward and hooked his collar with her finger, drawing him closer despite himself. “Tell me something, Romanov.”

“Hmm?” He dragged his gaze up to her mouth. The wicked curve of her lips was matched only by the words she threw into the space between them with such abandon. The woman wouldn’t know caution if it slapped her in the face.

“You’re dragging me to your cave to be your Bride of Frankenstein.” She shifted closer, her bare leg sliding over his slacks until her thigh came into contact with his cock.

He should move her. Set her back and explain that no matter what she thought of the situation, she wasn’t in control. But the ring he’d put on her finger winked at him, a reminder that Keira wasn’t the sister of his enemy anymore. She was his.

Or she would be in a few short hours.

He bracketed her thigh with a hand, keeping her in place, but didn’t touch her anywhere else. There was no masking his reaction to her, not in their position. Dmitri didn’t bother trying. “Calling me Frankenstein is more than a bit dramatic.”

She looked up at him, her eyes holding a question he didn’t have a satisfying answer to. “I think it’s time to stop being in denial, don’t you?”

He recognized the direction she was headed. “You know I want you. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t.”

Just like that, the shutters slammed down on her expression. She sat back and he let her go, watching her pull herself together. Her spine went ramrod straight, and she stared at the back of the driver’s head rather than at Dmitri. She crossed her arms over her chest. “No lies between us. That’s what you said. You want me, sure, but don’t pretend any of this bullshit has to do with sex. You need to prove what an international badass you are by marrying the sister of your enemy. An eye for an eye—a wife and a sister. Remember?”

He knew exactly what she was quoting. The note he’d had delivered to Aiden O’Malley just over a year ago. By my count, you owe me both a wife and a sister. I’ll be content with one of yours. He hadn’t realized Keira had seen it.

Twin possibilities spun out between them. She was scared and vulnerable, and if he told her that it was her he wanted and not what she represented, she would believe him. It would even be the truth, at least in part. He hadn’t been able to get Keira out of his head from the moment he met her, and he’d manipulated events to ensure they reached this exact moment.

Telling her that wasn’t telling her the full truth, though. This wasn’t some great love story where he’d been pining for her while her family kept them apart. Dmitri wanted her, yes. He craved the feeling of her body beneath his hands, her taste on his tongue, and her smart mouth around his cock.

But his craving her had no real relevance in the grand scheme of things. He needed one of the O’Malley daughters to regain his status after the blows the family had dealt him over the last two years. Keira was the only option left.

Liar.

It didn’t matter what the truth was, full or otherwise. What mattered was ensuring Keira toed the line. He sat back, trying to ignore the throbbing of his cock, and studied her. “You knew what this was when you climbed out your window and stepped between me and your brother.”

She finally met his gaze, her hazel eyes fiery in their defiance. “Yes, I did.”

BLP REVIEW ~ TRACY

Katee Robert has ended The O’Malley’s on a high note. The Bastard’s Bargain made for a fantastic wrap up to the series.

Dmitri had intrigued me since we first met him and I couldn’t wait to find out what was behind the ruthless, cold facade he presented to his enemies and allies.
Kiera being the youngest and only O’Malley girl has been shielded and locked away for too long, losing herself to the drugs and booze she consumed, so when she finds herself suddenly married to the Russian who’s been watching, monitoring and kinda stalking her she’s at a complete loss…

I loved the burn between this pair. The attraction and interest never waned, even though Kiera slowed things right down and did what she could to delay the inevitable. Finding out just how much more there was to Dmitri made for interesting reading and seeing Kiera grow into her own skin – and the person Dima knew she could become – was fab.

The relationship between our leading couple that continued to grow and evolve had me hooked and rooting for things I wasn’t sure would ever see the light of day! With the usual alpha posturing between the family heads, unexpected betrayals, threats and drama, heat and passion TBB was an excellent read.

I’m gonna miss this series – which I know will be a definite re-read, because let’s face it, it’s that good!! – but I can’t wait to see what’s next from Katee!

So all I have left to say is that I FLOVED The Bastard’s Bargain and I’d give it 6* if I could!

Read all the books in The O’Malleys Series

THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT

THE WEDDING PACT

AN INDECENT PROPOSAL

FORBIDDEN PROMISES

UNDERCOVER ATTRACTION

THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN

About Katee Robert

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Katee Robert learned to tell her stories at her grandpa’s knee. Her 2015 title, The Marriage Contract, was a RITA finalist, and RT Book Reviews named it ‘a compulsively readable book with just the right amount of suspense and tension.”

When not writing sexy contemporary and romantic suspense, she spends her time playing imaginary games with her children, driving her husband batty with what-if questions, and planning for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

Connect with Katee at: Website | Facebook | Twitter| GoodReads | Instagram

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BLOG TOUR ~ Poison Kisses (Part 1) by Lisa Renee Jones

Feb 9

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

A sexy STANDALONE novel featuring Seth from the Dirty Money series!
It is not necessary to read the Dirty Money series prior to enjoying this book.
POISON KISSES will be released as three novellas in back to back weeks on Feb. 6th, 13th, and 20th!

Title: Poison Kisses Part One
Author: Lisa Renee Jones

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Amanda Skye made me want her. She made me trust her. She made me love her. Then she betrayed me. And now, a madman brings us together again and before our battle with him is over, I will make sure that she never forgets my name: Seth Cage. The Fixer for The Brandon Family Empire, but to a covert CIA operation, I will always be The Assassin. And to Amanda, I will be the man who made her moan, sigh, and beg. And I will make her beg.

Title: Poison Kisses Part Two
Author: Lisa Renee Jones

Release Date: February 13, 2018

I loved her. She left me. She betrayed me but now it’s time to open the closed doors. I’ll tell her my secret if she tells me hers. Our history, is more than lies. It’s our story, and I will do whatever it takes to reveal it all. I’m the Assassin, She’s The Poison Princess. We’re going to kill the bad guys, but we’re still deciding if we’re enemies. The one thing for certain, is we’re both going to strip down and get bare.

iBooks

Title: Poison Kisses Part Three

Author: Lisa Renee Jones

Release Date: February 20, 2018

Those you love, know how to hurt you. Those you love, know what to hide, because they know what is unforgivable to you. Now that I know what Seth hid from me, I want the secret to be the lie. I don’t want to kill him. I don’t want to leave him. I guess that’s why they say there is a fine line between love and hate. I love and hate that man with such passion, that it damn near hurts. But now, as we face down our shared enemies, as we are lead right back to an explosive discovery about my family, and to the night Seth and I parted ways, we will both be exposed in every way. And it’s time for me to decide if I plan to love Seth Cage for the rest of my life, or kill him, before he kills me.

iBooks

“I hate you, Seth Cage,” she proclaims in what I know to be an out-of-character emotional outburst that tells me I’ve rattled her.

And earns her my cool reply. “There’s a fine line between love and hate, sweetheart,” I say, but I don’t want her to hate me and it pisses me off. What is it about this woman that makes her my weakness? “I wonder if I missed the taste of poison on your lips, or did I just choose to ignore it?” And I need to know that answer. I close my mouth down on hers, my tongue sliding into her mouth, rough, angry, but she doesn’t respond. She doesn’t even touch me, and I won’t allow her that win. I fold her against me, cupping the back of her head, my tongue licking against hers until she finally fucking moans, and responds.

And damn it, she still tastes just as good as she did, just as right when she’s wrong, but at least I know now. Everything right about this woman will always be wrong, including the moment she bites my lips, drawing blood. “I still hate you,” she hisses.

Wiping my lip, I’m wildly aroused by what just happened, which proves how fucked in the head this woman makes me. And while I’m certain we’d both be more than comfortable with the idea of me pulling her skirt up and fucking her right now, and letting her think she’s manipulating me again, that has to wait until I have her someplace to myself. I release her, snatching up her gun and shoving it under my jacket, inside my holster. “Meet me at the south exit. If you aren’t there, I’ll kill you and then move on to Plan B and kill Franklin. And yes. This is a test. Pass it or you’ll be in my bed, in handcuffs for the rest of your life.”

“You said you’d kill me.”

“After I cuff you to my bed.”

I move to the door and exit into the staff hallway, and then the main school hallway, the scent of her, sweet jasmine, clinging to my skin. Damn it, I used to love that smell.

I’m halfway to the exit when suddenly she’s beside me. “As I know you know from whatever file they gave you on me,” she says without looking at me, “I watched people die because of that man in China seven years ago when he set off poison gas in the subway. I’m not sitting back while he does it again.”

I don’t reply. I just keep walking, but now she’s by my side again, as she was for three solid months, three years ago. Her words and actions are reminding me of what I’d found so damn appealing about this woman: her conviction and her moral compass that were greater than mine, that made her too good for me, and yet, made me want her all the more. Only, it was an act, a façade maintained even now and well. She’s an enemy in an uncomfortable alliance. I don’t believe a word she has said.

We reach the exit and I pause with her directly to my right, my eyes capturing hers. “You’re with me now and no one gets to take you from me. And I’m the only one who gets to kill you.”

“You’re so damn romantic,” she says. “No wonder I missed you.”

“You missed me, sweetheart?”

“That wasn’t literal.”

My lips curve. “And yet you kissed me like you missed me.”

BLP REVIEW ~ TRACY

I’m gonna start by saying that I’d much rather read a full novel rather than a novella series but I really enjoyed Poison Kisses Pt 1 even thought it was in this format, that may in large part be due to the fact that I love Lisa Renee Jones and her books!

The first book of the series introduces us to Seth – who we met in the Dirty Money series – and Amanda.
Seth was a CIA agent and 3 years ago he and Amanda were partners – in both work and love – and were about to close a big case when she suddenly disappeared and the operation went to hell. Since then, Seth has felt betrayed by his ex-lover and the last thing he wants is to be partnered up with her again!

Amanda had her reasons for running and her own trust in Seth has long been shattered. For the last three years she’s been living a solitary life but when things got to be too much for her she ended up putting herself in the sights of the CIA again.

Seth is known as The Assassin and Amanda is The Scientist but he always viewed her a his Poison Princess – initially as a term of endearment and then as a curse when she up and left him.

Part 1 gives us their history and an idea of what they are getting into this time around. Although the chemistry is still off the charts, trust in nowhere to be found between the pair but if they’ve to work as a team, they’re gonna have to get over this hurdle.

A great start to the novella series and I’m looking forward to what’s next as we ended this installment on a little bit of a cliff hanger!

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series.

In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is also the author of the bestselling DIRTY MONEY and WHITE LIES series. Presently, Lisa is working on her Murder Girl/Lilah Love series to be published by Montlake.

Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

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REVIEW & EXCERPT TOUR ~ FINAL SIEGE (Love Over Duty #2) by Scarlett Cole

Feb 9

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Review & Excerpt Tour for
FINAL SIEGE by Scarlett Cole!

Scarlett Cole is back with FINAL SIEGE, book two in the Love Over Duty series. When an urgent phone call brings Mac’s troubled past—and the woman he once loved—into the present, it’s a chance to redeem himself that he can’t refuse. To protect her, he’ll risk it all.
Don’t miss out on this second chance romantic suspense featuring yet another sexy alpha hero!

Title: FINAL SIEGE
Series: Love Over Duty #2
Author: Scarlett Cole

Release Date: January 30, 2017
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, SWERVE
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Format: Paperback and Digital

Synopsis:

In the Line of Fire…
Former SEAL Malachai “Mac” MacCarrick is all about the future he’s created with his Navy brothers in Eagle Securities, taking assignments in the most dangerous places, and doing things no one but ex-military would attempt. But when an urgent phone call brings his troubled past—and the woman he once loved—into the present, it’s a chance to redeem himself that he can’t refuse.

Straight to the heart. . .
An investigative journalist researching an explosive story, Delaney Shapiro tells herself she got over Mac—and his role in her brother’s death—a long time ago. But the first moment she sees him at her bedside in an overseas hospital, she knows it’s not true. Every moment together rekindles the desire that once burned between them, and now that she’s a target for an emerging Russian arms dealer, Mac won’t let her out of his sight. To protect her, he’ll risk it all—including his life…

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FINAL SIEGE Excerpt

Half asleep, unwilling to fully waken and face the day, Delaney snuggled deep into the covers and allowed the dreams that danced on the edge of her consciousness to enter. In it, she was naked, in a large white bed, with a man behind her. A hand spanned her stomach, pulling her back against a firm, warm chest. Spooning. Her favorite thing.

Lazily, the hand moved upward until it cupped her breast, and Delaney secretly urged it to squeeze gently, but it didn’t. Whoever the hand belonged to was definitely aroused. She could feel the heavy erection pressing against her back. Teasingly, she wiggled her butt against him in the hope he’d get the message, but nothing. No response.

Sun shone in through large open windows with white billowing curtains as she reveled in feelings of being turned on.

She turned in the man’s arms, grateful when he pulled her closer to him. His chest was wide, with a light smattering of hair, and she pressed her forehead to it as she slid her hand between them to the waistband of his shorts.

A hand gripped her wrist. “Don’t,” a voice said gruffly. Hard to get? That was a new one. She moved closely and pressed a series of soft kisses to his chest. But she could be that girl. The one who was confident enough to initiate. She licked his nipple and heard him gasp.

“Delaney, please. Fuck. Wake up!”

Suddenly the bed shook. Covers were dragged off her body, and her skin was cold. Then the realization hit her.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

It wasn’t a dream.

Delaney forced one eye open and confirmed her worst nightmare. Mac stood naked, apart from a pair of basketball shorts and a huge erection. And if the tenting was to be believed, his chest and bicep dimensions weren’t the only muscles that had grown. His hair was ruffled, standing up every which way as it always used to, and his eyes told her that she’d woken him up. By attempting to grab his dick.

Dear God. She was going to die.

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About Scarlett Cole

The tattoo across my right hip says it all really. A Life Less Ordinary. Inked by the amazingly talented Luke Wessman at the Wooster Street Social Club (a.k.a. New York Ink). Why is it important? Well, it sums up my view on life. That we should all aspire to live a life that is less boring, less predictable. Be bold, and do something amazing. I’ve made some crazy choices. I’ve been a car maker, a consultant, and even a senior executive at a large retailer running strategy. Born in England, spent time in the U.S. and Japan, before ending up in Canada were I met my own, personal hero – all six and a half feet of him. Both of us are scorpios! Yeah, I know! Should have checked the astrological signs earlier, but somehow it works for us. We have two amazing kids, who I either could never part with or could easily be convinced to sell on e-bay.

I’ve wanted to be a writer for a really long time. Check through my office cupboards or my computer and you’ll find half written stories and character descriptions everywhere. Now I’m getting the chance to follow that dream.

Connect with Scarlett: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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BLOG TOUR ~ Hitched While Intoxicated (A Romance Novella) by Florella Grant

Feb 8

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Presents

Blog Tour: Hitched While Intoxicated

by Florella Grant

GOODREADS

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Available Now!

AMAZON

What could be in the memory box that has Kimberly Davis afraid of opening it?

When Kimberly and her friends were young, they started a memory box to open once they all turned 30 years old. It’s her 30th birthday, but she has a bad feeling about what’s inside. Images of beer bottles, dancing with a stranger, and a bare-end walking away flash before her.

How bad can it be?

The box is finally opened. Their memories spread out in front of them, and only one last item in the box.
A marriage certificate!

Oh no!

After discovering the stranger, Ryan Calvin, never annulled the impulsive marriage, Kimberly has no choice but to put an end to it. Against her brother’s legal advice, Kimberly takes the divorce papers to Pottersville, Indiana.

Easy peasy, right? Not exactly!

Ryan is out of town. His brother Alex, has offered her a place to stay until Ryan’s return. Alex is a single father, and generous to his guest. Oh, did I mention he’s hot and Kimberly can’t help but notice? She’s in danger of falling for him. He’s affectionately willing to catch her. What could happen when Ryan finally returns?

Excerpt

Alex didn’t mean to eavesdrop but, when he passed Kimberly’s room and heard her on the phone, he paused to listen. The conversation was about him. That much, he knew. He wondered what her friend suggested and wished he heard both ends of the conversation. Alex didn’t have time to think about what his guest was saying because he heard her say goodbye. He quietly slipped into the living room and acted like he’d been there all night. “Hey, there you are,” he welcomed her when she walked into the room. “I was just thinking about watching a movie. Care to join me?”

“Do you have popcorn?” Kimberly teased as she sat on the other end of the couch.

“Only if you help me,” Alex joked. He didn’t need her help in the kitchen, but the thought of them working side by side, in the small space, excited him. She poured a couple drinks while he worked his magic on the stove. As the corn popped, he turned to her and asked, “Why do you want a divorce?”

Kimberly gave him a confused look and then shrugged her shoulders. “Because we were drunk and young. I have no idea who Ryan is. How can I stay married to a stranger?”

Alex didn’t say anything for a while. He put the popcorn in the bowl and seasoned it while Kimberly took the drinks into the living room. When he joined her, he continued the conversation. “I didn’t mean it like that. Are you engaged or something?”

“What?” Kimberly’s laugh sounded like she was nervous. “No, what makes you think that?”

“I don’t know,” Alex began smiling. “Isn’t that what they do in movies? Girl gets engaged, finds out she’s still married, and sets out to end it.” She was looking at him but not saying a word. “Romantic comedies.”

Kimberly couldn’t keep a straight face any longer. He was being serious; thinking she was there for those reasons. She started laughing which caused him to laugh. “Nothing like that.” She assured him.

“I don’t believe in divorce,” he told her.

“Neither do I,” she said, but Alex smirked. “Under normal circumstances,” she added. “Ryan and I don’t know each other. It should have been annulled years ago. This is different.” He reached over and tapped her knee, and nodded, letting her know that he understood.

“So, you’re single?” He noticed her rosy cheeks and the way she took a deep breath. Alex felt flushed himself but had the advantage of a five o’clock shadow to hide it. When she didn’t answer right away, Alex cleared his throat and said, “So what would you like to watch?”

“Sweet Home Alabama.”

They laughed. Alex knew she was joking and picked something else out instead. He flipped through the options and noticed her inching her way closer to him. The thought of putting his arm around her crossed his mind, but he held back. Getting close to Kimberly would only cause trouble.

When the movie was over, Alex put the television on mute and turned towards Kimberly. “What do you do for a living?”

“Social media consultant and online management,” she answered.

“What is that?” Alex knew what that was. He only wanted to listed to her sweet voice speak to him.

Kimberly stated to explain what she did but hesitated. “Wait, do you have the internet out here?”

“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, ma’am.” Alex laughed and continued in a hick voice, “Around here, we rely on nosey neighbors to keep us informed of all the gossip.” Then he pointed to a desktop computer and he threw a kernel of corn at her to make her laugh again.

Kimberly’s face turned red once more. “What about you?” She questioned in return. “You run this farm by yourself?”

“It’s a family farm,” he reminded her. “When Ryan isn’t here, I’m usually running it alone. Sometimes, I hire local guys to work for a few weeks at a time; usually around harvest.”

Kimberly looked like she forgot about Ryan. He watched her adjust her legs as she sat on one. If he didn’t know any better, Alex would think she was intrigued. “Do you have a big family?” She questioned him.

Alex frowned. “No, not anymore.”

Kimberly cocked her head signaling for him to explain that.

“Have an aunt and uncle on my father’s side of the family, but they moved to Florida years ago. I rarely hear from them.” He paused, figuring out what she’d like to hear. “My dad died when I was twelve. Mom, uh, just a few years ago. Remember?”

Kimberly nodded. He mentioned it the night before. “It’s just you and Ariel,” she said out loud without thinking.

“And Ryan,” Alex reminded her with a devilish grin. His face neared her as they wrapped up the conversation. Her lips were close. It took all his strength not to lean in and kiss them.

“And Ryan,” she whispered with a sense of regret in her voice.

About the Author

Born on Valentine’s day, Florella Grant is a pure romantic at heart. Her first words were “happy ever after”. Okay, maybe not exactly those words but she’s been writing them since she was old enough to pick up a pencil. She comes from a long line of writer’s, including her very distant relative, Ulysses S. Grant. Florella has been inspired by Jane
Austin and Emily Bronte, but her biggest inspiration comes from the fictional romance novelist, Felicia Galant. All her life, she wanted to be Felicia, and was deeply saddened when the long running daytime drama, Another World, was canceled. Florella lives in New York and has 3 beautiful daughters.

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BLOG TOUR ~ LIVING OUT LOUD by Staci Hart

Feb 8

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

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Living Out Loud, an all-new emotional standalone from Staci Hart is available NOW!

LOL-wrap

Bestselling author Staci Hart brings you another installment of the Austen Series, inspired
by the works of Jane Austen, with a heartfelt contemporary retelling of Sense and Sensibility.

When Annie Daschle arrives in New York City, the only thing she can control is her list.

Not her father’s death or the loss of her home. Not the hole in her heart or the defective valve that’s dictated so much of her life.
But she can put pen to paper to make a list of all the ways she can live out loud, just like her dad would have wanted.

See the city from the top of the Empire State Building: Check.

Eat hot dogs on the steps of The Met: Check.

Get a job at Wasted Words: Check.

What wasn’t on her list: Greg Brandon. And just when she thinks she’s figured out where to put him, everything changes. In the span of a few staggering heartbeats, she finds herself her caught in the middle of something she can’t find her way out of, with no clear answers and no rules.

List or no list, she realizes she can’t control anything at all, not even her heart.

Not the decisions it makes, and not the moment it stops.

Excerpt:

GREG

We chatted as we walked down Fifth to the bike rental station and unlocked one of the blue bicycles. And a little while and one park bench later, we were walking through the park in search of a grassy stretch off the beaten path.

We found what we had been looking for—a space lined with trees, somewhat shielded from the rolling, open knoll by boulders jutting up out of the grass.

“This looks good,” I said, lowering the kickstand before taking off my backpack.

She pulled off her bag, looking nervously at the bike as she took a seat in the grass. A thin sheen of sweat glistened on her cheeks and forehead, her face a little pale.

“You sure you’re okay?” I asked, eyeing her.

She smiled—her favorite way to answer. “It looks worse than it is. Promise.”

I frowned. “Really, maybe the bike is too much. Maybe we can do this after your surgery.”

“Greg, I’m fine. Come sit by me for a minute.”

I kept my arguments to myself and sat next to her.

“The cool air feels so nice,” she said, gathering up her hair and pulling it over one shoulder, exposing her neck.

“When they fix your heart, will you still feel like this?”

“No. I should be able to do anything physical I want within a few weeks of the surgery.”

My brows drew together. “Really? After open-heart surgery?”

“Really. It’s not like a heart transplant or anything. The hardest part of my recovery will be the incision and the fusing of my sternum back together.”

A shudder tickled its way down my spine at the thought of a bone saw opening her rib cage. “What all will they do to your heart?”

“Close the hole, repair my valve. I’ve had open-heart surgery before, but I was too little to remember anything about it. The scar is the only proof that it happened. Well, that and my mother’s stories. But this shouldn’t be too hard on the muscle itself, just some sutures when it’s all said and done. My body will work a lot more efficiently once the surgery is complete—like, immediately. I just have to get through the whole split-ribs thing,” she said with a little smirk. “All right, I feel better. Are you ready?”

She looked better. Her cheeks and lips were tinged with color, and the waxy quality her skin had taken on was gone.

“Ready when you are.”

We got to our feet, and I stepped to the bike to lower the seat. Once it was down, I waved her over.

“Come here and see if this works.”

She climbed on cautiously, her feet on the ground and her hands gripping the handlebars. The seat was probably too low, but I figured it’d be better for her center of gravity—plus she could stop herself easier if she tipped.

“Okay,” I started, one hand on the back seat and my other on the handlebar next to her hand, “I’m gonna hang on and hold you steady while you pedal.”

She shot me a worried glance. “And if I fall?”

“You get up and try again.”

She laughed, not looking convinced.

“Don’t worry; you’re not going to hurt yourself on the grass, but I’m not going to let you fall. I’ve got you, okay?”

With a deep breath, she nodded once. “Okay.”

“All right. Put your feet on the pedals.” My grip tightened when the balance was all on me. “Ready?”

“Ready,” she echoed with determination.

“Now, pedal.”

She did, moving us both forward, the bike only wobbling a little bit under her.

“Good, let’s go to that tree. Just keep it slow like this.”

Her tongue poked out of her lips, her hands white-knuckled on the handlebars until she got to the tree. And when she smiled, it was with more confidence.

“I did it!”

I laughed. “You did. Come on, let’s go back. Ready?”

She nodded, and we took off again. This time, she wobbled a little less, speeding up until I had to trot next to her to keep up.

When we stopped at our backpacks, she cheered. “Again!”

“All right,” I said on a chuckle. “I’m just gonna hang on to the back this time. And…go.”

I did just that, my hands on the back of the seat, the handlebars swerving a little but nothing she couldn’t correct. And then I let go.

She didn’t notice, wholly focused on staying upright, and I kept jogging, pulling up beside her. When she glanced over, I held my hands up in the air and wiggled my fingers.

Her face opened up with joy, and a whoop passed her lips—just before she swerved into me.

A string of expletives hissed out of me as I tried to grab her, but it was too late. She tumbled into me, bike and all, taking us down to the cold grass.

Annie was lying on top of me, her hair tossed across her face. The ground was cold and damp under me, and the handlebar of the bike was jammed into my ribs, but I barely even noticed. Not with Annie sprawled out across my body, her green eyes sparkling and her laughter ringing in my ears.

My own laughter met hers like an old friend.

“Are you okay?” I asked, sweeping her hair out of her face to tuck it behind her ear.

She flushed but made no move to pull away from me. “I’m fine. Are you okay?”

“I’ll live.”

We watched each other for a moment through the rise and fall of my chest, the movement carrying her like a rocking ship. And then she giggled again, climbing off me before reaching for the bike.

It was then that I began to fully comprehend the depth of the trouble I’d found myself in.

LOL-AN

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Wasted Words

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About the Author

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life — a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife, though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey.

From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

Connect with Staci:

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Website: http://stacihartnovels.com

Newsletter: http://stacihartnovels.com/get-the-newsletter/

Join Her Reader Group Here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stacihart/

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RELEASE BLITZ ~ Diesel (Satan’s Fury MC #8) by L. Wilder

Feb 8

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Title: Diesel

Series: Satan’s Fury MC #8

Author: L. Wilder

Genre: MC Romance

Release Date: February 6, 2018

I may look like the boy next door, but if you mess with someone I care about, I’ll become your worst fucking nightmare.

Ellie:

I never dreamed that I’d end up at a motorcycle club, especially one as notorious as the Satan’s Fury MC, but that’s exactly where I’d found myself. They were supposed to be vicious, cold-blooded killers, but after an accident that nearly took my life, they opened their doors to me, treating me with nothing but kindness.

I was damaged, broken beyond repair, but one man, one tough-as-nails biker, saw past all my scars. With his sinful good looks and intoxicating, green eyes, he could turn the head of any woman, but for me, it was his heart that drew me in.

Diesel:

I should’ve kept my distance, kept my guard up, but Ellie Blackwell had me feeling things I’d never felt before—good things, really fucking good things. There was no way in hell that I was gonna walk away from that. It might’ve been a mistake to get wrapped up in her when there were so many unknowns surrounding her past, but in my gut, I knew she was the one.

I didn’t care what obstacles stood in my way, I was going to make her mine.

“Yeah. I figured if I was gonna have my house by the water, I was gonna enjoy it, inside and out.” I chuckled and added, “Besides, it’s a good distraction from the second-hand furniture and lack of decorations.”

“Your furniture is great, but you’re right.” Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she looked around. “It could use a picture or two on the walls.”

I pointed to a tiny, four by six photograph that I had hanging in the kitchen. “I’ve got pictures. See? That’s one of my very first motorcycle.”

She walked over to the picture and studied it for a minute. “Um … Diesel, that’s a moped. It’s just like the one my brother used to have, except this one is missing the little wire basket on the front.”

“What? You’ve gotta be shitting me.” I smirked, knowing very well that it was, indeed, a moped. My stepfather had given it to me when I turned twelve, and it was a gift that left a lasting impression. “That sweet ride right there is a Honda PA50 1978 Hobbit.”

“Yeah. Well, I hate to break it to you, but that sweet ride is a moped.” The light in her eyes danced as she laughed, making her even more irresistible. I could actually feel myself being pulled towards her as she continued, “But don’t worry. I won’t hold it against you.”

“Good to know.”

After she took a quick look around the kitchen, she went back into the living room and stood by the windows. As she stared out at the ocean, she said, “You were right. The view really is amazing.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“With a view like this, you should have a porch or a little patio. I could see myself spending an entire day out there just looking out at the ocean, drinking my coffee and reading.”

“I hadn’t thought about that, but you’re right. It would be cool.”

“Be warned. If you build one, I might never leave.” She teased.

I liked the idea of her staying there more than I cared to admit.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Leslie Wilder grew up in a small town in West Tennessee. A country girl at heart, she’s always thought that life is too short, but she had no idea how short it really was until her brother passed away in 2014. She’s always been an avid reader, loving the escape only a great book can give, and wondered if she had what it took to write one of the wild romances she’d come to adore. With the support of her family and friends, she published Inferno: A Devil Chaser’s MC, one year after her brother’s death. With him in mind, she fulfilled her lifetime dream of writing. Since then, she’s completed the Devil Chaser’s Series and continued on with the Satan’s Fury MC Series. She has so many stories in her head, and can’t wait to share each and every one.

Leslie has been blown away by the support of her readers, appreciating every message, review, and encouraging word she’s received over the past year. She looks forward to continuing this journey with them for years to come.

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BLOG TOUR ~ FOUND by Claudia Burgoa

Feb 7

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

FOUND by Claudia Burgoa is now LIVE!

Special sale price is 99 cents!

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BOOK DESCRIPTION:

All I’ve ever wanted was for someone to choose me. My mother didn’t. My father didn’t. The beautiful boy next door, who grew up to marry me, didn’t. Neither did the next man with whom I thought my heart was safe.

Back in the Bay area, three thousand miles from New York City, I can start fresh. Become one with the sea again, rise or fall on the tide of my own choices. But on the first day of my bright new life, the darkest shadows of my past follow me through my office door. The two men whose names are definitely not on my five-year plan.

If I let it consume me—my need for one man, my love for the other—the darkness will swallow me whole. I can’t let that happen. Not again. This time, the waves of emotion crashing against my heart won’t drown me. This time, I get to choose my happy ending.

Goodreads:

EXCERPT:

It’s time to get back to the hotel. Fitz and I have been helping Hazel set up her apartment. Installing the sound system was the last thing on her list, and I’m almost done. But I don’t want this day to end. Not yet.

I don’t want to leave her.

I want to bask in the light of the infectiously cute smile she wears everywhere she goes.

I want to stay with her for the rest of the night.

Forever—if she allows it.

Hazel Beesley has been warming my cold soul since the moment I met her. She isn’t like any women I’ve come across. I met her the summer she came to live with her grandfather.

Everything about Hazel captured my heart from the beginning. Her big eyes, long braids, wicked smile and a smart mouth. Her luscious, full lips. The eagerness to learn and help people. Behind the professional hard shell she shows to the world, there’s a smart, sensitive, caring woman. She adores her family and helps everyone around her.

My relationship with her has been by stages. The big crush happened when I met her. Slowly, I fell in love with her, and one day, we kissed. In that instant, her air became mine, and my soul was branded with her name. Her presence calms the demons inside my head. She knows most of my secrets and my fears. Hazel held my hand while we face my most significant challenges.

My phone buzzes. It’s a text from Harrison, my oldest brother.

Harrison: Where are you?

Scott: San Francisco.

Harrison: Why am I not surprised? Are you and Hazel getting back together?

I snort. That’s the plan, but there’s a complication.

Scott: I’m working on it.

Harrison: If I could, I’d talk some reason into her, but … you fucked up, and I can’t help you.

No one can help me. I let out a long, frustrated breath. Harrison is her best friend. They are so similar.
According to him, I have a hefty price to pay before she forgives me. Then, I must grovel, and maybe we will salvage something.
At least, that’s what he said after Christmas.

Scott: It’s back to square one. I have to remind her how great we are together.

Harrison: That puzzles me. That the two of you fit just right. You are so different. And yet, you stayed together for a long time.

He’s right. On the surface, we don’t look compatible. However, deep down we fit perfectly. Like a key in its lock, I belong to her.
It’s in the way she makes me feel. The yearning when she’s away. The joy I experience when she’s steps away from me.
She holds the power in our relationship, not me.

Scott: I regret being a coward, and letting her slip out of my hands knowing that this day would come.
The day she’d move back to San Francisco and see the boy she fell in love with since they were kids.

Harrison: Well, you better apply yourself before she sees him.

Jesus, I rub the back of my neck. What am I doing here?

Scott: This might be a lost battle. She already saw him.

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Claudia is an award-winning, international bestselling author. She lives in Colorado working for a small IT company, managing her household filled with three confused dogs, two daughters wrought with fandoms and a son who thinks he’s the boss of the house. And a wonderful husband who shares her love for all things geek. To survive she works continually to find purpose for the voices flitting through her head, plus she consumes high quantities of chocolate to keep the last threads of sanity intact.

AUTHOR LINKS:

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com /webforms/landing/m6l6v4

Amazon: http://ow.ly/qffW30bU5Ur

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/author s/claudia-burgoa

Book+Main: https://bookandmainbites.com/claudiaburgoa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaYBurgoa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Author_ClaudiaB

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/yuribeans

Instagram: http://instagram.com/claudia_b 30/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/auth or/show/7202946.Claudia_Y_Burgoa

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RELEASE TOUR ~ Kissing Strangers by Alethea Spiridon

Feb 6

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Funny, forthright, and hopeful, Kissing Strangers is a survival-based how-to guide about looking for love online … and how to separate the men from the frogs.

Out Now! – Kissing Strangers: How to Online Date Like a Boss by Alethea Spiridon

Follow the tour and #enter to #win a copy of Kissing Strangers!!

ENTER HERE:

Title: Kissing Strangers: How to Online Date Like a Boss
Author: Alethea Spiridon

Genre: Dating
Release Date: January 30, 2018
Length: 40,000 words

BLURB:

So many frogs. So few princes.

Every single (and soon-to-be-single) woman knows the Dating Horror Stories. The guy who charms your panties off before he bolts. The funeral planner with a foot fetish. The Early Ejaculator. Or that filmmaker looking for a soul mate—provided you don’t mind he lied about his height, his weight, his wife, and… oh look, a micro-penis. How nice.

The bad news is that these guys exist. The good news? There are ways to find them, avoid them, and concentrate your energies on non-fuckwits. Who, as it turns out, also exist. Hurrah!

From deciphering Man Speak to the sexy perks of 30-year-old men, Catfishing 101, navigating hookup culture, and the safety precautions every woman should take, author Alethea Spiridon taps into her own hilarious—and occasionally heart-crushing—experiences in the dating world. Funny, forthright, and hopeful, Kissing Strangers is a survival-based how-to guide about looking for love online … and how to separate the men from the frogs.

Find out more at: Goodreads | Amazon

PRAISE FOR KISSING STRANGERS:

“I absolutely loved reading this book! Funny and engaging, this is a great guide for women who are getting their toes wet into the online dating pool. It’s funny, informative, compelling. I wish I had read this when I was online dating. It would have helped me a lot. I made a lot of those mistakes!” Bestselling author, Carmen Falcone

EXCERPT ONE:

Dating today isn’t really dating!

It’s hooking up, hanging out, Netflix and chill.

I asked one of the guys I matched with on Bumble about this idea that nobody dates anymore. Sean, 36, said this: “Well, I think at our age we know what we want and when we find it we move quicker than before.”

You can probably guess that Sean moved on faster than I could ask a follow-up question.

Most men look for sex and find love. Truth.

I’m a romance editor and a die-hard romantic through and through, so this cold, loveless world of dating where most people are in it to sleep with you on the first “date” is soul crushing. Yes, mindless sex is fantastic, but when that is all most guys want…

What the fuck happened to romance?

Do not expect to be courted or dated. Expect to be jerked around, lied to, avoided, ghosted, stood up, breadcrumbed, cancelled on… There are, of course, good men out there, but it will take some digging and meeting, and time and patience.

That’s where this book comes in. You want sex? I’ll show you how to find it. You want something more? Well, keep reading…

Go in knowing a few things.

Tinder. Bumble. POF. OkCupid.

Ghosting. Breadcrumbing

Netflix and chill.

“Nobody dates anymore!”

“Romance is dead!”

You thought dating would be fun, easy, and you’d walk around in your cute little outfits like the women do on television. Bah! Not so much, girls. It can be fun. It is fun at times. But it’s also work and involves a lot of man decoding and navigating a landscape filled with unknowns, rejection, confusion…not much has changed since your mom dated, really. It’s just packaged differently is all.

Dating comes in new forms now. Well, the ways that we get to men.

One in three people meet online today, so you have to be where the men are—on a dating site and dating apps. Swiping and sore digits will be your new norm.

But that’s just how you initially connect. Nothing matches real-life experience, so you must meet and talk to men, and a lot of men (probably) until you find the one you click with and want to settle with, whatever settling means for you.

Or maybe you’ll meet him on guy number three.

And if it’s hookups you want, you’ll get tips on how to make them work for you. Nothing wrong with casual sex!

This guide will give you that heads-up so you don’t get ambushed like I did. You’ll know what the booby traps are and how to charge ahead regardless. Consider this your counterattack in your plan to survive.

A decisive victory can be yours, but you need to know the rules if you want to beat them (men) at their game.

EXCERPT TWO:

To Find a Prince You Have to

Kiss Some Toads

Back on the Block

I was curious and the solution was easy. Here were tons of potential suitors online. Just pick one, right?

Nope.

It means diving in and wading through thousands of men to hopefully come out with a few you won’t mind giving up a few hours for.

I joined Match.com for eighty dollars and three months, set up a picture (albeit an older one; yeah, I did that my first time), and wrote a brilliantly edgy, smart ass, and to the point profile. The messages and winks started rolling in.

Finding a decent man is hard work.

I sent my brother a text one night: Are men as awful as I remember?

His response blew me away: Oh sure. Good men are hard to find. That is very accurate. That’s why I have few friends. We know that too and avoid those guys.

Ha! Well, there you have it. A good man is hard to find. If I intend to find one (and I do), I can’t give up.

Three hundred days to a wakeup

I decided to go in hard for a year and see what was out there, how it worked, how men worked. What this dating thing was really all about and like. This is part of my story and what I’ve discovered along the way. Learn from it. Laugh at it.

Girlfriend to girlfriend, this is what I know and wish someone had told me.

You’ve Decided to Try Online Dating …Great!

Once you’ve decided to try online dating, you need to figure out which sites to go on. Each site has a different vibe and feel to it, and the only way you can effectively gauge that is by going on and figuring out what you like…and don’t.

My first bit of insight for you is this: Dating is a numbers game.

It’s as simple as that. Dramatic? Not in the least! Come back after you read this in full, and after you online date a bit, and see if you don’t agree. I want you to have fun kissing strangers, but I want you to go in with a realistic vision too. I want you to know how to online date like a boss.

Date by the numbers. That’s how men do it! And on this battlefield, there are fewer men for every woman. Like three women for every man. Ugh. Seriously. We’re literally duking it out on the battlefield. But let’s not! Please. We can share (and some of you love doing that, legitimately). That being said, the sad truth is that the odds are not in our favour, it seems. But they can be if…

We date like a man! You might get rejected, but you’ll be rejected from the guys you want a chance with. If you simply wait for guys to reach out to you, you might only hear from the guys you already know you don’t want.

So… get on the sites I list below and get on them all even. Rotate between three and four. Play by those damn numbers, because that’s how men do it and that’s how you’ll increase your chances of getting the guy.

QUESTIONS FOR ALTHEA:

Becky on Books asks: How do you realistically find time for dating with work, a kid, and a writing career?

You’re right, it’s tough and hard, and some weeks almost impossible. I made it more a priority when I was writing the book on online dating because I needed to experience dating. Now that I have, and know what most men are like, I’m not as eager or willing to give up what precious time I do have. All that getting ready (something men still don’t quite understand), driving to wherever, then the time invested in actually meeting…it’s a lot to do and to do to only be disappointed most of the time.

Now I only bother with people I feel there could really be a match with. Before I was open to seeing if matches could be found in unlikely places. I just don’t have time for that now. And many, many men are not understanding when it comes to a woman being busy and having other obligations, and needing flexibility. I may have to change date night or the time…they seem to want a woman who can be attentive to them and them only, and live in some bubble that isn’t impacted by responsibilities. They take it personally! I don’t need that.

Yes, dating takes time. I reserve that time for real potential candidates now, and even then, it’s tricky because, honestly, three quarters of the time I’m dog tired and just want to go to bed. Those are the times I wish I could fast forward and be at the already-know-you stage of dating where he could come over, bring fries, and we cuddle in bed watching Lovesick again because it’s that good. But reality looms large and to get to that sweet spot we. Must. Go. On. Dates.

Magi Romance asks: As a Romance Editor what are your favorite and least favorite romance tropes?

I adore the tropes that require the hero and heroine to have a feisty, electric, dynamic relationship charged with tension, sexual and other. A Taming of the Shrew kind of energy a la Taylor and Burton. So those tropes would be marriage of convenience (my favourite trope), blackmail, and revenge. I love a good nanny story, and a friend of mine is writing one now and it’s going to be amazeballs.

I don’t tend to gravitate to, say, second chances or reunited lovers, though stats seem to say readers love those two tropes. I just find the stories end up being a bit flat. I mean, yes, it can be done well, and has been done well, but a lot of the time it’s simply a nice sweet story that doesn’t zing with energy, the kind of energy I enjoy at any rate. Really, I don’t care what trope you use as long as there is conflict galore, amazing sexual tension, and a proper romantic arc. These seem like basic requirements for a romance, but you’d be surprised how many writers struggle with those three.

Miss Riki asks: Everybody fudges the truth in an online profile….right? What is your deal breaker? Or is even a white lie or omission grounds for dismissal?

I’ve never lied, at all, on a profile. Not one iota. What’s the point? The other person will eventually figure it out. And what an awful way to start a potential relationship, if that’s what you’re there for. Many people are only looking for hookups, so lying about career, money, etc. doesn’t matter to them that much. Your height and weight will. Honestly, I haven’t encountered too many people who have lied on their profiles. There was one guy, and I mention him in the book. It was horrifying to discover when we first met because he lied so drastically. That’s a deal breaker for me for sure. Honesty is number one. You’re out if you lie.

So, yes, a white lie is grounds for dismissal in my books. And it should be in yours too! If they start lying about the little things right from the start, then, girl, there isn’t much hope for the future and when it comes to bigger things. It says a lot about a person’s character, and you can choose to dismiss it … at your own peril.

Reviews in Heels asks: Have you ever met a guy who was better than initial impressions would suggest? How did he redeem himself?

No. And I’m sorry for such a short reply! I pretty much know going in what I’m going to get, though there have been doozy curveballs thrown at me that I did not see coming. I wouldn’t go out with a guy who I thought was iffy to start, so no one had to redeem himself on my clock. I know this happens and it’s always a delight, to be sure, when someone turns out to be better than expected. I’ve had guys flake out on date day and then message days later, but not to redeem themselves or apologize, so they got the boot.

For the most part, in my experience, they turn out to be far more disappointing than expected and the answer to this is really simple: projecting oneself online, through text and email, and even phone, allows for the creation of some kind of persona more easily. But everything comes clean and is revealed in the first meet. That’s where the goods come to life… and get packing nine times out of ten.

The Avid Reader asks: How many times does a person need to go out with someone before they are considered as “dating that person”? I ask because young people these days can go out with a person for months and still not count that as dating or that they are boyfriend/girlfriend etc

I love this question and touch on it in my book. Dating is dead today. Nobody dates anymore. Men are terrified of saying they are dating someone, because they are so afraid of commitment in all of its forms. Why commit to one woman when at the slip of a finger you can have ten more who might be better than the one you’re currently seeing/sleeping with? Dating has been bypassed. Most people go from hooking up/hanging out to boyfriend/girlfriend, ditching the courtship and dating stages.

You aren’t dating until you hear him say you are dating…or until you get the courage to ask him if that’s what you’re doing. Today, most people are hooking up and hanging out. You used to be able to assume that after five dates you were, logically speaking, dating a guy, but not anymore. Until a conversation has been had about dating or seeing each other exclusively, you aren’t doing anything but seeing each other casually and/or hooking up and hanging out. The word dating is akin to marriage and serious commitment to most men. It freaks them out.

Do not assume you are dating after three, four, ten dates. Unless you hear him say it or you ask…you aren’t doing anything remotely like dating and it’s just casual at this moment. Honestly, nobody knows what the hell is going on anymore because all the protocols of courtship have been tossed into the fire and we’re now left with this free-loving haze that has us all wondering where we stand with other people. It’s a strange and confusing time to be “dating.”

Love in a time of Feminism asks: What are subtle but massive red flags to look out for on dating profiles? The ones that look innocent enough but actually should be setting off alarm bells.

I’m always wary of the profiles that seem to cater to what a man thinks a woman wants to hear. You know, all the sweet things, like he’s looking for love, his best friend, his soul mate, wants to walk hand in hand with the love of his life…most men do not talk like this or think like this. Maybe once he’s head over heels in love. Maybe. Most catfishing profiles start and end like this because they want to draw in all the lonely women who are desperate for love and a man to say such sweet things to her.

Another red flag is when they have a laundry list of attributes they are looking for. Women do this too, but I find people who have lists are going to be people who are neurotic and difficult to please. You have to be savvy and read profiles carefully.

If it seems over the top, demanding, or simply says something lame like “Ask me” or “I don’t like to share myself online so message me” then you’re potentially dealing with men who aren’t sincerely wanting to be online to look for anything real. The “Ask me” boys are really here for a booty call, so if that’s your thing, amen, and have at it. The blank profile guys are either here for just a booty call or are so damn lazy and apathetic about the whole online dating experience they can’t even be bothered to fill anything in. I think that tells you everything you need to know about that guy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alethea is a writer and editor (lots of romance books, so many) out of Ontario, Canada. When her marriage fell apart she realized she had to get back out there and figure out how to date again or accept a life of eating from the Dinner For One menu option permanently. The book in your hands (or on your screen) is the result of that research. If it saves one woman (you!) from the landmines out there in the DatingVerse, then she’s done her job. For more bits of dating advice and man mysteries solved, visit her website at www.littleblackhook.com.