Category Archives: Excerpt

BLOG TOUR ~ Sky’s The Limit (Doomsday Preppers) by Elle Aycart

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

Tired of waiting for her big break in the fashion industry, Sky Gonzalez, eternal part-time student and overworked retail drone, quits her job, sublets her New York apartment, and embarks on a semester abroad study program in Paris. Paris! Time to throw caution to the winds and jump-start her dreams. What’s the worst that could happen?

How about getting sent to the wrong Paris? As in Paris-frigging-Minnesota?

Bye-bye career dreams. Bye-bye glamour and haute couture. Hello flannel shirts, mind-numbing cold, zero bars on the cell phone, and socially challenged mountain men with tons of unruly facial hair.

So yeah, let the truck barreling her way hit her, please. Less painful.

Logan should have dodged the little lost waif and kept on driving. Who in their right mind walked in the middle of the road, dressed in white from head to high heels, during a snowstorm? Clueless city girls, that’s who. Sky is all that Logan has gladly left behind: stylish, cosmopolitan, and a massive pain in the butt. He wouldn’t trade a single day in his quirky little corner of the woods for all the high-maintenance beauties the city can offer.

Too bad this beauty has been deemed a health hazard and quarantined in his house. Damn his doomsday-prepper neighbors and their paranoid emergency protocols. Now he has to keep Sky in and the pandemic squad out until the roads are clear. The question is, will that happen before or after Sky realizes she’s under house arrest?

Ah, the best-laid plans…


Logan addressed the pandemic squad up on the platform. “Sorry to break it to you. This is a free country. You can’t go quarantining people at will.”
“Wrong. Exactly because this is a free country, we can.”
There were some mumbles of agreement from the crowd, “That’s right” and “You got it” and “Try to stop us.”
“We live in a democracy. Let’s take a vote,” Carol suggested. “All in favor of quarantining Patient Zero, please raise your hands.”
Everyone, including a smirking Ty, raised their hands.
“Oh, come on,” Logan grumbled. “Really? You serious?”
“Motion accepted,” Carol said, wrestling the gavel from the mayor and banging it on the podium. “Besides, Patient Zero doesn’t have to know she’s been quarantined. Just keep her indoors by any means necessary until she gets better.”
“Or she kicks the bucket,” somebody chimed in.
Nuts. The whole bunch of them. Down to the very last one.
“She’s not Patient Zero, people. Her name is Sky and she’s got the flu, damn it. Not Ebola. Just a common, garden-variety flu.”
“By our calculations, Patient Zero has been here almost twenty-four hours. We’re late on containment,” Carol said.
Logan shook his head in dismay. Man, like talking to a wall.
“You had her hidden away for a whole day?” Ty asked impishly.
“She was just sleeping on my sofa.” Logan realized his mistake right away and turned to Carol and the rest. “You are not burning my sofa. Are we clear?”
Whether it was clear or not, Logan didn’t know, because Carol ignored his words. “And we’ll be monitoring you,” she added while the rest nodded. “At the slightest indication you’re sick—”
“Yeah, yeah, you’ll quarantine me too, and if I don’t get better fast enough, you’ll shoot me and cremate my remains.” Along with the damn couch, of course.
Carol rolled her eyes. “Don’t be silly.”
“Yeah, don’t be silly,” someone interjected. “We’ll autopsy you before that. Dissect you into tiny pieces.”
Jesus fucking Christ. Why couldn’t his neighbors have been the gearheads prepping for solar flares that would fry the grid? More kumbaya. Less ready to dissect.
“This is all your fault, Megan,” he said to his sister, who was sitting two rows behind him. “Couldn’t you have moved somewhere else? A normal fucking place?”
She just laughed. “You heard the lady. Keep Patient Zero indoors—by any means necessary.”
“Ha. Ha.”
“What? Skills too rusty to keep a woman indoors?” she asked.
“I can help,” Ty added. “Is she pretty?”
Gorgeous, actually. Big, dark eyes. Olive-colored skin. Delicate features. But that was beside the point too.
“Fuck off, both of you,” Logan muttered. Raising his voice, he addressed the crowd again. “You’re certifiable. All of you.”
“I totally agree,” Carol said. “We give you far too much leeway. Look at how flexible we’ve been about your toxic contaminants.”





BLP REVIEW ~ Tracy

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After a colorful array of jobs all over Europe ranging from translator to chocolatier to travel agent to sushi chef to flight dispatcher, Elle Aycart is certain of one thing and one thing only: aside from writing romances, she has abso-frigging-lutely no clue what she wants to do when she grows up. Not that it stops her from trying all sorts of crazy stuff. While she is probably now thinking of a new profession, her head never stops churning new plots for her romances. She lives currently in Barcelona, Spain, with her husband and two daughters, although who knows, in no time she could be living at the Arctic Circle in Finland, breeding reindeer.

Elle loves to hear from readers!

elleaycart@gmail.com

 

 

RELEASE BLITZ ~ Watching Mine (Consumed #3) by Alex Grayson

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IT’S LIVE!
 


COVER DESIGN by Cover Me Darling

 

WM Blurb (1)
 
My name is Nathan Reines… and I’m a voyeur. Yes, I like to watch people have sex. Witnessing the desire on their faces as they writhe in pleasure makes my blood hotter than the hottest flame. There’s nothing more erotic than seeing their bodies tighten and tremble as they balance on the edge of ecstasy. It makes my dick as hard as fucking steel.
 
I’ve never been tempted to have a lasting relationship with a woman—why get involved when watching from the sidelines is so fucking hot? But from the first time I watched the woman in the apartment across from mine, I knew she was different. She teases me with her soft touches and gentle caresses. She tempts me with her silent moans and sexy whimpers. She excites me, and makes me want more than I ever have before.
 
For two years, I refused to give in to my curiosity. That is, until fate took things in her own twisted hands. Now that I know what it’s like to experience Emberleigh in the flesh, there’s no damn way I could ever go back to simply watching.
 

WM_TEASER_10


 
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NOW AVAILABLE!
 



 

WM Giveaway
 
 

Portrait of romantic couple


 
WM Excerpt
 

“Hey, Nathan,” Tegan calls. I look over and find him looking behind me. “Isn’t that—” He stops midsentence, leans forward, causing Willow to lean with him, and squints. A big grin spreads across his face a second later, and his eyes flicker to me. “9B,” he finishes, then leans back in his chair.

My back straightens, and I whip my head around. My eyes tighten into slits as I look through the darkness of the room. The place is packed with bodies. Some at tables, some standing around talking to others, some out on the dance floor. I look from one person to the next, seeking out the only person of interest to me.

It doesn’t take long before I find her. She’s out on the dance floor, facing me, with some guy standing behind her. His hands are on her hips as she slowly sways to the music. Her blonde hair is swept up high on her head. With her eyes closed, she’s resting her head back against the guy’s chest with her arms lifted and her hands tangled in his hair.

There’s about thirty feet separating us and it’s dark in the room, but I can still see the look of pleasure on her face. My dick, already at attention, grows thicker. Someone steps in my line of sight, blocking her from view, and a growl leaves my lips. I’m just about to get up and knock the fucker away, when he moves.

Not bothering to tell the others I’m leaving, I get up and grab my beer to move closer. There’s a table at the edge of the dance floor that’s conveniently empty. I turn the chair around so it faces the dance floor and take a seat. There’s now only fifteen feet between us.

She’s wearing a black silky halter-type dress that hugs her tits, then turns loose and flows down the rest of her body. It stops midthigh, but with her arms raised, it barely covers her cunt. I have no doubt if she were to bend over, her ass would show. Her black sandals are high, and even in the dark, they sparkle from some type of glittery shit that’s all over them.

My eyes slowly rake down her body, taking in every inch of her. I’ve seen her completely bare, but never this close. Her naked body is a work of art, but seeing her this close, even clothed, is so much better.

When my gaze finally tracks back up to her face, my damn dick begs to be let loose. Her eyes are now open and she’s looking straight at me. She appears surprised, which makes me wonder if she remembers me from this morning on the street.

The shock is soon replaced with lust. Her tongue darts out to lick along her lips and her gaze turns hooded. My body responds to her blatant show of want. She doesn’t know me, but she still wants me from just a simple look.

She slowly lowers her arms, her nails dragging over the guy’s neck, then runs them down her sides. They skim along the outside of her tits, over his hands that are still on her hips, to the tops of her thighs. Her eyes stay connected with mine the whole time, as if she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. The guy behind her pushes his hips forward, grinding into her ass. She bites her lip and presses herself back against him. When his lips land on the side of her neck, she tilts her head to the side, giving him better access.

My hand tightens around my beer.

Fuck me. This woman is a goddamn temptress and she knows just what to do to tempt my
control.

I grab my dick and try in vain to make more room in my jeans. Her eyes widen when I move my hand away. I bring my beer to my lips and take a long pull. With a smirk, I sit back in my seat and enjoy the show.



WM Author Bio
 
 
Alex Grayson is originally from the south, but has recently moved to Northern Ohio. Although she misses the warmth of Florida and often times detest the cold of Ohio, she absolutely loves living in the north. Her and her husband bought a house on two acres of land and live there with their daughter, son, one dogs, two cats, eight ducks, and three chickens. She hopes to eventually get a couple of goats to add to their country way of living. Besides her family and home, her next best passion is reading. She is often found with her nose obsessively stuck in a book, much to the frustration of her husband and daughter. On more than one occasion Alex found herself wanting a book to go a certain way, but it didn’t. With these thoughts in mind, she decided to start writing stories according to her own visions. Although this is a new endeavor for her, she hopes that readers find her concepts on romance intriguing and captivating. Alex welcomes and encourages feedback, of any kind. She can be contacted at alexgraysonauthor@gmail.com.
 




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NOW LIVE ~ Princess Witch (The Reigh Witch Chronicles #2) by Billie Dale

Princess Witch
The Reigh Witch Chronicles Book 2

by Billie Dale

Genre: PNR romcom

Blurb

The battle was won, Mom got her man. Where did that leave me? Stuck with an overbearing step dad wanna-be in a realm I hate.
What I want: Normalcy; to go to college and leave Erigate in my rearview mirror.
What I get: Acting Queen duties and a giant mess.
Mom’s pregnant and, with some unforeseen complications, she hands the reigns of her land over to me. It’s got to be easy, right? Do what my mother needs to be done for the sake of the kingdom, wait for her to deliver the baby, and then I’m off to college.
Wrong, so very wrong. A murdered body left by a cold-blooded killer is found, throwing an uber wrench in my plans.
Now, I have extra security in the form of a hot, brooding shifter named Phoenix Winston, plus a super sexy half-alien/half-human hybrid – the one and only Declan Moore.
My powers are amped, two men are making me question everything and I have a killer to catch. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
I’ll either figure out what I’m doing or accidentally burn it all to the ground. Either way, my life just became interesting.


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Author Bio

Billie Dale lives in no-where middle earth. Lost in a small village in the Midwest with four kids, three animals and an amazing, word inspiring book boyfriend worthy husband.
A blogger by nature and a writer because she got tired of arguing with the voices in her head. She loves and lives the words on the page, whether writing them or reading them her life is consumed by the worlds her head creates.
Her greatest wish is that readers will fall in love with her words as much as she loves writing them and as much as she loves reading others. She loves to create new worlds to explore and loves to write words that will take root in you soul.
Paranormal, New Adult, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary — there is not one box she fits in. She’s a rebel in the author world who writes what her head tells her even it jumps from genre to genre.

Author website and social media links

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Twitter @author_bdale
IG Author Billie Dale


 

FIRST LOOK ~ THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN (The O’Malleys #6) by Katee Robert

       


Get a First Look at THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN by Katee Robert!   

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!

 


Pre-order THE BASTARD’S BARGAIN and add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads!
Then keep reading to get an EXCLUSIVE sneak peek at UNDERCOVER ATTRACTION
and to enter the giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card or an eBook from Katee’s backlist!

 

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
Format: Digitial and Print

 

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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plus 3 runner-ups will win an eBook from Katee’s backlist (winner’s choice)!

 

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The Bastard’s Bargain Excerpt

Copyright © 2018 Katee Robert

It wasn’t until the front door closed behind Ivan that the reality of her situation sank in. Dmitri was furious. He might have faked it for his friend, but he stood next to her, a pillar of stone with anger coming off him in waves. His grip on her elbow didn’t hurt, but if she’d tried to leave, he would have restrained her.

She should be afraid. She should be terrified.

Keira’s heartbeat picked up, adrenaline kicking in. She swung to face him with a fierce smile on her face. “You didn’t compliment me on my dress.” It was a work of fucking art. She smoothed her free hand over her hip and up her side. “Actually, you called me a high-class sex worker. Is that any way to speak to your beloved wife?”

His gray eyes followed the movement, a muscle ticking in his jaw when she cupped her breast. “I meant it when I said you’re playing with fire.”

That wasn’t just anger on his face now. No, it was rapidly being overtaken by sheer lust. An answering feeling sent a bolt straight to her core. She stepped back, and he released her instantly. A strange feeling coursed through her, straightening her spine and making her want to laugh out loud. Power. This is what power feels like.

He wanted her. He wanted her so badly, he had his hands clenched at his sides to keep from touching her again. But he wouldn’t until she gave the green light. Keira took another step back. “I have a hypothetical question.”

“Ask.” His voice was rough. The way he watched her made her feel like prey, and she liked it far more than she should—because she wasn’t prey. Keira had her own teeth and claws, and Dmitri would learn that as time went on.

“Hypothetical, if I said yes tonight…how do you imagine that would go?”

He stared at her a long moment. “Nyet. I’m not playing this game with you.” She blinked and he was on her, one hand snaking around to press against the exposed small of her back, the other tangling in her hair. “We are not children, moya koroleva. These games don’t become us.”

He kissed her. There was no cautious exploration or easing into it. Dmitri kissed her like a conquering warlord who was sure of his welcome because he owned everything in the room—including her. There was no fighting this. She didn’t even want to try. Keira slid her arms around his neck and pressed herself more firmly against him. His cock was a hard length with too many layers between them. She rolled her hips, an invitation she wasn’t sure she was ready to follow through on.

Dmitri slid his hand down to cup her ass, guiding her movements. Long slides up the length of his cock and back down again. The stupid goddamn dress kept her from spreading her legs wider, from getting him exactly where she needed him. Her nipples rubbed against his shirt, the silk incredibly decadent across her sensitized skin.

“Keira. Moya koroleva.” He kissed down her jawline, tilting her head back until she had to arch her spine to accommodate the position. “Did you enjoy their eyes on you? Ivan’s. The men who owe allegiance to me. Anyone who cared to look.”

It took her desire-drugged brain a beat to catch up, but by then he was already growling out more words against her skin. “Did it make you feel powerful to know they were imagining stroking the nipples you flash with such impunity?” He moved his hand from her ass to do exactly that, dragging a finger over her puckered nipple. “They wanted the body you so proudly put on display.” His voice roughened. “They wanted what’s mine.”

Say something. If you don’t say something right now, you’re going to give in tonight and then it will all be over.

He moved his hand to her back and bent her until she relied solely on his strength to keep her off the ground. And then Dmitri’s wicked, wicked mouth closed around her nipple. The weight of the beaded design seemed heavier with his tongue flicking the engorged bud, making his touch that much hotter. She couldn’t hold back a moan as he moved to her other breast.

Dmitri dragged his mouth up the center of her chest, the only part of her not caged in the dress, stopping at the thick collar. He flicked the hollow of her throat with his tongue. “This is my favorite part of the dress.” He ran his thumb over it. “This, more than anything else, marks you as mine.”

A collar for a kept pet.

It was as if he’d doused her in icy water. Keira went rigid and shoved Dmitri away. She almost fell when he released her, but she regained her balance at the last second. They stood mere feet apart, breathing hard and staring at each other. I am no one’s pet. She slashed her hand through the air. “I might be your wife, Russian, but I’m not yours. I’ll never be yours.”


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 (Coming soon!)


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


 

BLOG TOUR ~ Under The Lights (Bright Lights Duet #1) by Tia Louise

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“All the sin, heat, and dirty underbelly that comes with it. I’m dying to read Under the Stars!”
–Nora Flite,
USA Today bestselling author


Under the Lights, book one in the
thrilling, white-hot second-chance Bright Lights Duet
from USA Today bestselling author Tia Louise is available NOW!

TLUndertheLightsBookCover5x8_BW_325


Under The Lights


Heroes don’t last long around here…

Fall in love with the sexiest girl in New Orleans?

Check.

Prepare to die for her?

Double-check.

Larissa is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

She’s the rising star of the Pussycat Angels, the hottest burlesque show in the French Quarter.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw her.

The curve of her breast outlined by sparkling rhinestones.

Slim hips wrapped in black fishnets.

Long, dark hair…

She’s the Dark Angel who stole my heart.

Her body is intoxicating, our love overwhelming.

Cat eyes and blood red lips.

Sizzling fingers on white-hot skin.

I couldn’t keep my hands off her…

But her fame had a dark side,

A sinister shadow lurking under the lights.

I would do anything to save her…

He would do anything to see me dead.


Excerpt:

“You’re so good.” Her voice is soft, and she traces her finger along the bandage before lifting her blue eyes to meet mine. “Thank you for buying me lunch. For saving me…”

Without warning, she steps forward and wraps her arms around my waist, pressing her face against my chest, and I don’t hold back. She fits perfectly in my arms, and I inhale the sweet scent of her hair just before I press my lips to the top of her head.

Her voice is muffled against my shirt. “It feels so safe here.”

“Lara,” I whisper in her hair. “I want to keep you safe.”

She pulls back, and I loosen my hold. But she doesn’t leave. She puts her hand against my cheek, lifting her chin as she rises higher on her toes. Hell if I make her work for it.

Leaning forward, I capture her lips. They part, and our tongues meet, curling together as I hug her closer to me. She exhales a little noise, and her fingers thread in the sides of my hair. I trace a line with my lips to her ear.

“I want you so much,” I whisper.

She turns, searching for my mouth, and I kiss her. She fists my shirt in her hands, pulling it up and placing her palm against my bare stomach. I groan deeply, and my hands slide under her ass. I lift her against my chest, and her legs go around my waist. Our kisses are wildfire, fast-moving, lips pulling, hungry for something more. Something just within reach.

She moving subtly against my waist, and the blood rushes downward. I’m hard and she’s riding me, stroking my erection with her crotch.

“Lara,” I groan.

Her lips still, and she holds my cheeks, looking into my eyes. “That night on the catwalk… The way you looked at me…”

My brow collapses at the memory. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I only want you to see me.”

Her lips are pink and swollen from my kisses. I lean forward and kiss her again, tasting her like she’s water in the desert. She exhales a little noise, and it’s a charge straight to my cock.

I love her lips. I love her mouth. I want more. I want all of her.

“Does your waist hurt?”

She leans forward, running her nose along my jaw. “Nothing hurts. Everything is amazing.”


UTL-AN

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Out January 22nd Today!

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About the Author:TLM new logo

Tia Louise is the USA Today best-selling, award-winning author of When We Touch, the “One to Hold” and “Dirty Players” series, and co-author of the #4 Amazon bestseller The Last Guy.

She loves all the books (as long as they have romance), all the chocolate (as long as it’s dark), strong coffee and sparkling wine.

After being a teacher, a book editor, a journalist, and finally a magazine editor, she started writing love stories and never stopped.

Louise lives in the Midwest with her trophy husband, two teenage geniuses, and one grumpy cat.

 

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BOOK TOUR ~ Escaping Humanity (The Exceptionals #1) by Sarah Cass & Mary Terrani

 
Escaping Humanity
The Exceptionals Book 1
Sarah Cass & Mary Terrani

 

Divine Roses Ink

 
 
 
 
 
Exceptionals are being hunted for slaughter.
 
It’s the year 2023, and a government-created virus meant to produce an army of super soldiers has activated a hidden gene in half the
population. The end resulted gave them superhero-like powers. Decades of covert operations, followed by an all-out war to destroy this new race has left the country decimated. One group of these Exceptionals is out heal the world. They take in stranded Exceptionals, and fight against the army trying to kill them all.
 
Their efforts lead them to Annie, a young woman in New York City who doesn’t realize the danger she is in. The rescue takes a side turn that leaves them in a scramble to save her life.
 
Meanwhile, hidden deep in the compound of General Steele, the man in charge of the soldiers, two key Exceptionals are being held against their will. They have a plan for escape, which could lead to freedom, or certain death.
 
These two branches of rebel Exceptionals are in a fight for their lives. Only problem is, in a world that is out of glass slippers and
fairy godmothers, not everyone can make it out alive.



 
 
 
 

The flight to the compound seemed normal, uneventful even.

As uneventful as escaping from soldiers chasing them, a woman that could sprout wings and fly, a decrepit old barn, and an aircraft that appeared to be held together by duct tape and bubble gum could possibly be.

Annie wondered briefly if bubble gum still existed. Contemplations like that were the best distraction she had as she kept her eyes screwed shut for the duration of the flight. One hand clutched the bag on her lap while the other dug into what was left of an armrest.

Solid ground. Was that too much to ask?

The other passengers talked the entire flight. No, they picked on each other. Now and then for a brief moment she could have sworn she heard a smile, almost laughter, in James’ voice. Such a thing seemed unlikely. She held the conviction he’d been born scowling.

“Anna, we’re here.” James spoke close by. His voice stirred her to open her eyes. He towered over her, arms folded across his chest.

Mission accomplished and he still appeared permanently pissed off. “And where is here exactly?” Did he ever smile? Annie rolled her neck from side to side in an effort to get rid of some of the stiffness.

“Montana. What’s left of it anyway. As wide open and unpopulated as the state was, it didn’t get hit as bad as states with major cities.” He tapped his foot in a quick cadence against the metal floor. “We need to move.”

“Right. You’re the impatient one.”

“Look, Anna…!” The growl re-emerged.

If James stood as the group’s version of a welcome wagon, the reason for their dwindling numbers couldn’t be clearer. “It’s Annie. Please. Anna is my grandmother’s name.”

A scoff escaped his gritted teeth.

She pushed on the armrest, not at all surprised when it tumbled to the floor. Her eyes fluttered shut. “Sorry.”

“It’ll get fixed.”

She muttered under her breath, “So much for finding my parents before I kick the bucket.”

“Anna—Annie,” he corrected himself. “You can’t think like that. It could still happen.”

“Right. Next, you’re going to tell me Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy are all downstairs.” She pressed her lips together tight in an effort to reign in her emotions. Even with that, her fingers shook on their way to grab the strap of her bag. “I’m sorry. This whole thing is just…well I don’t know what it is.”

James’ expression softened. “I know it’s a lot to take in. I can explain more once we are inside where it’s safer.”

For the first time since they landed she realized they were alone. “Where are the others?”

“They had something to take care of.”

So, they left her stuck with tall, dark, and angry? Great. “Lead the way, then.”

Off the plane they wound up on a broken-down street. Several houses lined what she imagined had once been a nice, suburban sort of street bustling with kids and soccer moms in their SUV’s. Hard to believe it would have been only a year ago when the world had blown up. The way nature had already taken over, it seemed like ages since the street had seen any regular traffic.

They walked into the first house on the right without so much as a knock. She wanted to ask why they didn’t stop in any rooms, but held herself back. Despite the fact that he led her straight toward a door that framed steps descending into a basement, she followed him.

She’d already come this far and really, where would she go? A maniacal sort of giggle filled with nerves and humor over the craziness bubbled to the surface. “You pull me from my home to a place in the middle of nowhere and the first place you take me is a basement. This isn’t serial-killer worthy at all.”

“Hard to have serial killers with so few people to kill…and not everything is as it seems, smartass.” The barest hint of a smile graced his features before he wiped it clean away.

“Careful. You almost smiled there. I might begin to wonder if you were feeling well or not.” Another laugh reached for the surface. “Sorry. If I don’t laugh I’m liable to end up thinking I’m in an episode of the Twilight Zone.”

James jogged down the steps without turning around. “We all do whatever we have to get by.”

He led her straight to a dead end. The room looked like any normal basement before or after the War. Shelves with boxes and canned foods lined the walls. A few bags here and there on the shelves and floor lent to the general idea of a still-functioning home.

Then James reached through a few of the boxes and things got weird again.

The wall moved. It swung inward to reveal a wide metallic corridor. The bags remained on the floor where the shelves had been, but with a simple step over them they’d be in whatever that place was. Before the wall had moved, Annie had seen no sign of a seam in the wall at all.

She blinked several times. “And this day just keeps getting weirder.”

“You haven’t seen the half of it yet.” James motioned for her to go through ahead of him. “Every house in the area has an access port like this.”

“Everyone is underground?”

“Not everyone. We take turns staying topside. We’re still human, we still need sunlight.” He paused at an intersection in the tunnel. “That leads to the house next door.”

“But it looks so deserted up there.” She scanned the tunnel as they kept walking. After walking a few feet, a familiar sensation hit her like a ton of bricks. Once she hadn’t felt in a while. A rush of energy that left her near giddy. Computers—lots of them. “You have a full functioning computer network.”

“Yeah. No getting any ideas, though. Cy has them locked down tight. You won’t get anywhere no matter how hard you try.”

“No ideas. It’s just an odd feeling after not being able to feel it for so long.” She trailed her fingers along the wall. The construction impressed her. “The tunnels haven’t always been here, I’m assuming. So how did they get here?”

“We have a few mutants that are good with that sort of thing.” He shrugged as he punched in a code to open the next section. “We have a few…uh…containment cells in here.”

“Containment cells? I thought you said you were the good guys.” Annie took a step away from the door. She searched for another path they could take.



 
 

 

 

 
 
About Sarah Cass
 
Sarah Cass‘ world is regularly turned upside down by her three special needs kids and loving mate, so she breaks genre barriers; dabbling in horror, straight fiction and urban fantasy.  She loves historicals and romance, and characters who are real and flawed, so she writes to understand what makes her fictional people tick. And she lives for a happy ending – eventually. And enough twists to make it look like she enjoys her title of Queen of Trauma Drama a little too much.
 
An ADD tendency leaves her with a variety of interests that include singing, dancing, crafting, cooking, and being a photographer. She fights through the struggles of the day, knowing the battles are her crucible; she may emerge scarred, but always stronger. The rhythms to her activities drive her words forward, pushing her through the labyrinths of the heart and the nightmares of the mind, driving her to find resolutions to her characters’ problems.
 
 
While busy creating worlds and characters as real to her as her own family, she leads an active online life with her blog, Redefining Perfect, which gives a real and sometimes raw glimpse into her life and art.  You can most often find her popping out her 140 characters in Twitter speak, and on Facebook.
 
 
 
 
 
About Mary Terrani
 
Mary Terrani lives a chaotic life as the mother of two rambunctious boys of the teen and tween variety. They keep her on her toes on a regular basis, so she’s happy to get lost in other worlds. Her long-standing passion for the written word drives her need to create chaos with her pen that only she can solve. She loves to dabble in many genres, from young adult to paranormal, and even a post-apocalyptic piece she’s co-writing with fellow author, Sarah Cass.
When she’s not writing, Mary can be found in a variety of activities including knitting, gaming, and anything involving her favorite geekdoms. Mom, author and all around geek she loves spending time with her family.

CHAPTER REVEAL & PRE-ORDER BLITZ ~ Well Played by J.S. Scott & Ruth Cardello

 

 


LaurenGraham is my brother’s best friend. He’s always been my protector and my confident because he accepts me the way I am—and not many do. I can’t imagine not having him in my life.

Our weekend together was supposed to be a celebration. I graduated from college, Graham got engaged and signed with a pro football team, and my brother landed his dream job. It should have been the best time of our lives.
Except that the weekend started with me walking in on Graham’s fiancée going down on my brother.I complicated the situation by having sex with Graham after that, but I wanted to comfort him and, damn, when I saw desire in his eyes—for me—I couldn’t say no. I’ve wanted him for so long.Now he doesn’t want to see me. He says he has a darker side he needs to protect me from.

Where do we go from here? Do I try to pretend to be his friend again or push him to open up to me and possibly lose him forever?

Graham

Sleeping with one of my best friends was not exactly a brilliant idea. It made things complicated, and I didn’t do anything that threw my life into chaos. The fiancee her brother, Jack, had stolen had been part of my life plan, one more step I was taking to be somebody. Granted, I hadn’t been in love with my intended bride, but I didn’t really know how to love anybody

I survived.

I pushed to achieve more.

I battled my way to the top of the heap in my pro football career..

I’m a total dick, and I don’t want Lauren to see the side of me that would trample over anybody to work my way up in the world.

Lauren sees me as a hero, a title I’d never gain with anybody else in my life, so I wanted to keep her sheltered from the hard realities of my life. I wanted her to continue to think I was nice guy when I was really just the opposite.

We never should have crossed the line of going from friends to lovers.

There’s too much Lauren doesn’t know about me, and I care enough about her that I don’t want her to share my pain and the darkness that never sees daylight inside me.

I want her, but she’s a woman I can never have. She’s too smart, too sweet, and way too good for a guy like me.

Unfortunately, pushing her away becomes much more difficult than I’d planned…

 



Chapter 1
 
Lauren

Specific moments tend to embed onto your psyche. They are so traumatic, so painful, they instantly imprint onto your long-term memory.

This was destined to be one of those moments. If I survived. If my ability to breathe returned.

I clenched the doorknob as my brother scrambled to cover his naked ass with a pillow. He swore and told me to get out.

I froze.

Holy shit, nothing will ever be the same.

Hope, the woman whose mouth was inhaling my brother’s cock, scrambled to retrieve her clothing from the floor. Her face was tomato-red. It should be. She’s engaged to Graham Morgan, my brother’s best friend.

Or she was.

“My lesson was canceled.” My voice was strangled as were my insides.

“You should have said something,” Jack said in a tone he’d used once when we were much younger and I’d caught him downloading porn on my computer.

That memory was also embedded.

I’m not a prude, but certain societal codes of behavior should be adhered to. One: Not violating my computer or—ew—my room because you’re grounded from the Internet.

Two: This!

“I’m sorry—” I stopped; I wasn’t sorry. I was numb. I waited for Jack to break out in a smile. It had to be a prank. Graham and Hope’s wedding invitation had arrived two days ago. Mine was secured on the refrigerator at Dad’s place with a heart magnet. We were in Aspen to celebrate the pending nuptials as well as my graduation and Jack’s promotion. “What are you doing, Jack?”

He shook his head without answering, and I pitied him. He usually wasn’t an asshole, at least not as assholey as he appeared with a pillow clutched to his genitals as if his nudity was the big issue.

Clothing in hand, Hope dashed from the living room, down the hall, and to the master bedroom. I wanted to escape, too, so no judgment on my behalf.

“Hope,” Jack bellowed.

She didn’t stop.

He grabbed his clothing and charged after her.

A cold burst of air brought a flurry of snow through the opened door. It instantly melted on the dark wooden floor of the luxury chalet Graham had rented.

We had spent weekends in Aspen, although never in a place so nice. During high school, Jack and I had scraped our pennies and rented the best discounted rooms we could afford. Graham had joined us, but we’d refused his money. He’d never talked much about his home life, but we knew it wasn’t good. Eventually, he’d stopped arguing and simply swore he’d get a huge NFL contract and repay us someday.

He finally had, and the expense of this chalet probably balanced the account.

On autopilot, I closed the door, unzipped my jacket, and hung it in the closet. I peeled off my boots and neatly placed them on the mat. I should have sought the warmth of the blazing fire in the stone hearth, but I still had the visual of my brother and Hope sprawled in front of it.

I shook my head.

That’s an image that can’t be unseen.

The kitchen seemed like a safe destination. I poured a glass of Merlot, and even though I wasn’t a drinker, I finished it off in one long gulp.

This can’t be happening. I gripped the counter behind me. Graham had trust issues. Jack and I were the only family he had. Jack, how could you do something this stupid? This cruel?
I poured another glass and downed half. My stomach churned in warning.

Voices in the living room forced me to abandon my wine and walk toward them. Although I couldn’t make out what they were saying at first, they were obviously arguing.

Hope dropped her luggage in the foyer and retrieved her coat from the closet. I stood, silently observing. “I have to get out of here,” she said desperately. When she realized I was there, she said, “I’m sorry. Graham is on his way. I should tell him not to come, but—” She covered her face with her hands. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

I might have felt sorry for her if I weren’t still trying to erase a certain image from my mind. It was still disgustingly vivid. Jack wrapped his arms around her, an act that angered me.

“You’re upset. You can’t drive like this,” Jack pleaded.

“I have to. I need to think. This isn’t me. I don’t do things like this.” She looked for confirmation from me, but I looked away. I hadn’t known her long enough to refute or support her claim, nor did I want to be put in that position.

“It’s going to be okay. I’ll drive you,” Jack said, as he cupped her face between his hands.

My voice finally functioned. “What about Graham?”

Jack turned to acknowledge my presence. I expected him to be angry with me, but his face held a pained expression instead. “I’ll drive Hope to the airport then come back. He’s still a few hours out.”

“I should be the one to tell him,” Hope said, although she didn’t look or sound convinced.

“No, we’ve been friends our whole lives. I’ll tell him,” Jack said firmly.

How noble of him. I wanted to slap him. His declaration had the opposite effect on Hope. She melted against him, and I wanted to vomit. There were many words I could have let fly, but none would have helped the situation.

I turned to walk away.

“Lauren,” Jack said as he approached me. Whispering to keep Hope from hearing, he said, “Don’t say anything to Graham if he beats me here. Tell him we were out when you arrived.”

“I won’t lie to him,” I said forcefully, brave from my wine buzz.

“Then drive home now.”

My mouth gaped. I didn’t know this Jack. “What if Graham gets here before you? Don’t you think he’ll worry if no one is here or answering his calls?”

The door opened, and Hope slipped out.

I started to tell him what I thought of his plan, but he walked away.

He grabbed his coat and swung the door open. “Listen, I fucked up. You don’t need to tell me how badly. Don’t say anything to Graham, okay? I’ll make this right. I swear.”

He slammed the door before I had a chance to agree or tell him to go to hell.

I grabbed my cell and brought up Graham’s number. He deserved to know what had happened. He deserved a chance to talk it out with Hope if that was what he wanted.

I stopped in front of the fire without calling him. I paused, trying to understand my feelings. My anger had dissolved; I felt relieved—almost happy.

That was as unnerving as seeing Jack and Hope together.

Graham was my honorary brother from another mother, my protector, and even my confidant. Jack’s betrayal would cut Graham deeply, and my heart should be breaking for him.

Leaving my phone on the mantel, I went to my room to pack. No matter who told Graham, chances were he would hate all of us, including me, simply for bearing witness. He’d cut members of his family out of his life for that very crime.

I tried imagining my life without Graham but couldn’t.

Confused and disgusted with myself, I transferred my belongings into my luggage, pausing when I saw my reflection in the bureau mirror. I told myself my feelings were irrelevant. Graham had never looked at me the way he looked at Hope.

I wasn’t in her league. On my best day, I was cute. On my worst, I was a slightly overweight, bespectacled nerd with awkward social skills.

Many people spend their entire lives trying to stand out. I only wanted to blend in. Strategically, I had learned to keep the majority of my thoughts to myself. Sharing them had never made my life better.

At age seven I pinpointed the error in a cartoon character’s attempt at Fermat’s Last Theorem, a problem that had taken mathematicians until 1994 to solve, and sought to discuss it. Not having the mathematical vocabulary to properly express how I would have solved it, I’d asked my teacher, and was instantly transferred to a school for the gifted.

I graduated from high school at fourteen, had an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics by seventeen, and my PhD in condensed matter physics by twenty. Whether it was what I wanted or what I was told I should want, I was still unsure. When I requested a year off to find myself, I was directed to therapy. Some good came from that experience. I learned to value my emotions even when they didn’t match the expected. Feelings weren’t wrong, actions were.

I also met my best friend, Kelley. She was interning at the practice where I paid for two sessions, debated the basic principles of psychology for two more, then on my clinician’s prodding, went on to formally study it.

In retrospect, the suggestion to get my own degree if I thought I knew so much might have been sarcastic, but I wrote a dissertation to support my views and had an additional diploma a year later. Unlike my clinician, Kelley found my questions invigorating. She defined friendship as two people bringing out the best in each other. We were still close even though she had gone off to college in California to finish her studies, leaving us to communicate only by phone for now. Besides Graham, she was the only person who accepted me as I was.

On impulse, I retrieved my phone from the mantel and called her. No answer. I checked the time. It was early enough that she might be in class. I left her a voice message—a long, detailed update that included a trip to the kitchen for another glass of Merlot.

 


 Pre-order Well Played!

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Amazon US PB: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1946660485

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Coming Soon From Author J.S. Scott – Billionaire Unloved
Available February 27th 2018
 
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The Billionaire’s Obsession~Jett is NOW #LIVE & #FREE!!!

 
Coming Soon from Author Ruth Cardello 
Insatiable Bachelor Available February 22nd 2018
A brand new series set in a whole new world. 

Dalton:

Women are a perk of my lifestyle. I work hard. I deserve to play harder. But I didn’t get on the Forbes List of Rising Entrepreneurs by getting lost in the baggage and disruption that comes with dating. I’ve seen dozens of men fail when they fall in love. Pathetic.That’s why I chose the Bachelor Tower. It was designed by a genius, my hero: the late, Garry F. Sinclair. He created an all-male haven for ambitious men who want to live like kings and play by their own rules. Casino nights, a fully equipped gym and lap pool, cigar and Scotch bar, and a media room with screens the size of the average movie theater. The list is endless. I easily network with men trying to launch their careers or those at the top who want to stay hungry. The best part: the tower attracts women, beautiful women who hang out in the lobby bar and vie for an invite upstairs. Easy, like fishing in a barrel.Until Sinclair dies and Penny Fuller moves into the apartment next to me because the new owner doesn’t share his vision.

Everyone agrees Penny can’t stay. I don’t want to get involved, but she doesn’t understand the lengths my fellow building mates will go to to get her out. She’s not only irresistibly sexy and painfully optimistic, she’s also in real danger.

Siding with her would be career suicide.

Betraying her was never my intention.


 

 

J.S. “Jan” Scott is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USAToday bestselling author of steamy romance. She’s an avid reader of all types of books and literature. Writing what she loves to read, J.S. Scott writes both contemporary steamy romance stories and paranormal romance. They almost always feature an Alpha Male and have a happily ever after because she just can’t seem to write them any other way! She lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two very spoiled German Shepherds.

 
 

Ruth Cardello hit the New York Times and USA Today BestsellersLists for the first time back in 2012. Millions of sales are evidence that her her books are akin to potato chips, addictive from the first one. She has created a multi-series billionaire world with a combination of escapism and realism that has gained her a faithful following of readers.What Kindle Reviewers write about her:

“Wow hot at every page. Heart stopping, fear raging, mind blowing wonderful.”

“I’m a true fan of Ms. Cardello. I ran on to her first book a few years back and have been hooked ever since. I could go on and on about the story like of this book, but I’m not. All of her books are total page turners, unique, heart wrenching, and I love them all. There isn’t two alike in the bunch and I feel like i know the characters personally. I personally read 97 authors books. And I buy every book they put out. This author is in my top 10. Great job and keep them coming.”

“Love this series. Got me to start reading again. I look forward to the next book. Thank you for giving me the love of reading back.”

Ruth Cardello was born the youngest of 11 children in a small city in northern Rhode Island. She spent her young adult years moving as far away as she could from her large extended family. She lived in Boston, Paris, Orlando, New York–then came full circle and moved back to New England. She now happily lives one town over from the one she was born in. For her, family trumped the warmer weather and international scene.

She was an educator for 20 years, the last 11 as a kindergarten teacher. When her school district began cutting jobs, Ruth turned a serious eye toward her second love- writing and has never been happier. When she’s not writing, you can find her chasing her children around her small farm or connecting with her readers online.

 
Author J.S. Scott
 
Author Ruth Cardello 
Twitter @RuthieCardello

BLOG TOUR ~ Enticing Daphne by Jessica Prince

SBPRBanner-EnticingDaphne-BT


Enticing Daphne by Jessica Prince

Release Date: January 10th, 2018
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Enticing Daphne Final Front Cover.jpg

It’s easy to stop believing in happily ever afters when the man you thought you’d spend the rest of your life with abandons you right before your wedding day. After that disastrous event I decided that commitment was for suckers. I was young, successful, and in the prime of my life.

I didn’t need a man to make me happy.

Then an unexpected blast from the past came waltzing into my studio and decided I was a challenge he was more than willing to accept. The only problem is that he doesn’t remember he’s met me before.

He’s the ultimate playboy, determined to stop at nothing until he entices the hell out of me. But if Caleb McMannus thinks he can lure me in with his sinful looks and silver tongue, then he’s…probably right.


ED Available Now

Read Today!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2iIEz6v
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2jClOlM
FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2nqPtD1


Excerpt:

Google was quickly becoming the bane of my existence.

What had started as curiosity about Caleb McMannus had blossomed into a full-blown obsession. Once you Googled, there was no going back. I was disgusted with myself.

Not only because it seemed I’d banged a guy whose dick had already been in half the female population of the United States, but also because I couldn’t stop thinking about the stupid man-whore. It was a sickness. A gross, disappointing sickness that I’d spent weeks trying to cure myself of to no avail.

Each gossip column of his sexcapades, each picture of him in a compromising position—and there were many, all of them with a different woman—was cringe-worthy. But I couldn’t stop myself from searching them out.

What was worse, I couldn’t stop thinking about our night together. It had been the most intense, toe-curling experience of my life. And even though I pretty much hated him for forgetting about me, I wanted it again.

Damn my needy, traitorous vagina!


blog tour (3)



About the Author:

Born and raised around Houston Texas, Jessica spent most of her life complaining about the heat, humidity, and all around pain in the ass weather. It was only as an adult that she quickly realized the cost of living in Houston made up for not being able to breathe when she stepped outside. That’s why God created central air, after all.

Jessica is the mother of a perfect little boy–she refuses to accept that he inherited her attitude and sarcastic nature no matter what her husband says.

In addition to being a wife and mom, she’s also a wino, a coffee addict, and an avid lover of all types of books–romances still being her all time favs. Her husband likes to claim that reading is her obsession but she just says it’s a passion…there’s a difference. Not that she’d expect a boy to understand.

Jessica has been writing since she was a little girl, but thankfully grew out of drawing her own pictures for her stories before ever publishing her first book. Because an artist she is not.

Connect with the Author:

Website: www.authorjessicaprince.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorjessicaprince
Instagram: http://bit.ly/JessPrinceInstagram
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessPrince2013
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/_KJ0n
Jessica’s Princesses: http://bit.ly/JPsPrincesses


COVER REVEAL ~ Watching Mine (Consumed #3) by Alex Grayson

COVER REVEAL
 
 

COVER DESIGN by Cover Me Darling

 
 
My name is Nathan Reines… and I’m a voyeur. Yes, I like to watch people have sex. Witnessing the desire on their faces as they writhe in pleasure makes my blood hotter than the hottest flame. There’s nothing more erotic than seeing their bodies tighten and tremble as they balance on the edge of ecstasy. It makes my dick as hard as fucking steel.
 
I’ve never been tempted to have a lasting relationship with a woman—why get involved when watching from the sidelines is so fucking hot? But from the first time I watched the woman in the apartment across from mine, I knew she was different. She teases me with her soft touches and gentle caresses. She tempts me with her silent moans and sexy whimpers. She excites me, and makes me want more than I ever have before.
 

For two years, I refused to give in to my curiosity. That is, until fate took things in her own twisted hands. Now that I know what it’s like to experience Emberleigh in the flesh, there’s no damn way I could ever go back to simply watching.

 


 

 


 
PRE-ORDER FOR $2.99!
 
 
 
 

“Hey, Nathan,” Tegan calls. I look over and find him looking behind me. “Isn’t that—” He stops midsentence, leans forward, causing Willow to lean with him, and squints. A big grin spreads across his face a second later, and his eyes flicker to me. “9B,” he finishes, then leans back in his chair.

My back straightens, and I whip my head around. My eyes tighten into slits as I look through the darkness of the room. The place is packed with bodies. Some at tables, some standing around talking to others, some out on the dance floor. I look from one person to the next, seeking out the only person of interest to me.

It doesn’t take long before I find her. She’s out on the dance floor, facing me, with some guy standing behind her. His hands are on her hips as she slowly sways to the music. Her blonde hair is swept up high on her head. With her eyes closed, she’s resting her head back against the guy’s chest with her arms lifted and her hands tangled in his hair.

There’s about thirty feet separating us and it’s dark in the room, but I can still see the look of pleasure on her face. My dick, already at attention, grows thicker. Someone steps in my line of sight, blocking her from view, and a growl leaves my lips. I’m just about to get up and knock the fucker away, when he moves.

Not bothering to tell the others I’m leaving, I get up and grab my beer to move closer. There’s a table at the edge of the dance floor that’s conveniently empty. I turn the chair around so it faces the dance floor and take a seat. There’s now only fifteen feet between us.

She’s wearing a black silky halter-type dress that hugs her tits, then turns loose and flows down the rest of her body. It stops midthigh, but with her arms raised, it barely covers her cunt. I have no doubt if she were to bend over, her ass would show. Her black sandals are high, and even in the dark, they sparkle from some type of glittery shit that’s all over them.

My eyes slowly rake down her body, taking in every inch of her. I’ve seen her completely bare, but never this close. Her naked body is a work of art, but seeing her this close, even clothed, is so much better.

When my gaze finally tracks back up to her face, my damn dick begs to be let loose. Her eyes are now open and she’s looking straight at me. She appears surprised, which makes me wonder if she remembers me from this morning on the street.

The shock is soon replaced with lust. Her tongue darts out to lick along her lips and her gaze turns hooded. My body responds to her blatant show of want. She doesn’t know me, but she still wants me from just a simple look.

She slowly lowers her arms, her nails dragging over the guy’s neck, then runs them down her sides. They skim along the outside of her tits, over his hands that are still on her hips, to the tops of her thighs. Her eyes stay connected with mine the whole time, as if she knows exactly what she’s doing to me. The guy behind her pushes his hips forward, grinding into her ass. She bites her lip and presses herself back against him. When his lips land on the side of her neck, she tilts her head to the side, giving him better access.

My hand tightens around my beer.

Fuck me. This woman is a goddamn temptress and she knows just what to do to tempt my control.

I grab my dick and try in vain to make more room in my jeans. Her eyes widen when I move my hand away. I bring my beer to my lips and take a long pull. With a smirk, I sit back in my seat and enjoy the show.



 
 
Alex Grayson is originally from the south, but has recently moved to Northern Ohio. Although she misses the warmth of Florida and often times detest the cold of Ohio, she absolutely loves living in the north. Her and her husband bought a house on two acres of land and live there with their daughter, son, one dogs, two cats, eight ducks, and three chickens. She hopes to eventually get a couple of goats to add to their country way of living. Besides her family and home, her next best passion is reading. She is often found with her nose obsessively stuck in a book, much to the frustration of her husband and daughter. On more than one occasion Alex found herself wanting a book to go a certain way, but it didn’t. With these thoughts in mind, she decided to start writing stories according to her own visions. Although this is a new endeavor for her, she hopes that readers find her concepts on romance intriguing and captivating. Alex welcomes and encourages feedback, of any kind. She can be contacted at alexgraysonauthor@gmail.com.
 




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BOOK TOUR & GIVEAWAY ~ Unchained by a Forbidden Love (Eternal Mates #15) by Felicity Heaton

 

Book Tour and Giveaway!

Unchained by a Forbidden Love
(Eternal Mates Paranormal Romance Series Book 15)
by Felicity Heaton

 

 

Unchained by a Forbidden Love
(Eternal Mates Romance Series Book 15)

Felicity Heaton

Lost to the darkness, Fuery wages a daily war against the corruption that lives within him, constantly in danger of slipping into the black abyss and becoming the monster all elves fear. Work as an assassin gives him purpose, but what reason is there to go on when he killed the light of his life—his fated mate?

Shaia has spent forty-two centuries mourning her mate. Tired and worn down, she agrees to wed a male of her family’s choosing, following tradition that has always bound her as a female and hoping she will be able to gain just a little freedom in return. But as she resigns herself to being the mate of a male she could never love, fate places an old friend in her path—one who tells her that her lost love is alive.

Will Shaia find the courage to break with tradition and leave the elf kingdom in search of her mate? And as a ray of light pierces his soul again, can Fuery find the strength to win his battle against the darkness or will it devour him and that light of their forbidden love forever?

 

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Enter the grand tour-wide giveaway to win an Amazon Kindle Fire HD plus books 1-7 of the
Eternal Mates series in e-book or audiobook at the Unchained by a Forbidden Love book page.

This giveaway is international and open to everyone, and ends at midnight on January 28th.

Enter now: 


It was never a good day when he woke with the taste of blood on his tongue and no recollection of how it had got there.

Again.

Fuery stared up into the darkness, cold sweat trickling over his exposed chest and sticking the thin black bedclothes to his legs. He breathed hard, each heavy desperate exhalation shattering the silence, rasping in his ears together with his thundering heartbeat.

Icy claws gripped him, sinking into the blackened remains of his heart, attempting to pierce deep enough to reach whatever fragment of light remained in him.

He squeezed his eyes shut, dragged down a shuddering breath and held it, unwilling to let fear pull him into the darkness. He would not let it win. He couldn’t. He exhaled slowly, a measured pace that created a sliver of calm, enough to give him the strength to shake the grip of his fear and allow him to extinguish that emotion.

Because fear was a weakness.

He did not feel such things.

He hadn’t in a long time.

Not since he had hardened himself to the world.

Not since that night.

Fuery screwed his eyes shut even tighter, his lips drawing into a grimace that flashed his emerging fangs as the darkness welled again, pulling up memories from the abyss. They surged and fought for freedom, and he growled as he pushed back against them, battled and resisted them. The fight took longer this time, strained minutes in which the fear slithered back in and wrapped around him again, squeezing his lungs tight and hissing whispered taunts in his ear, words about the terrible sins he had committed that had the memories surging harder, almost breaking to the surface.

He gripped the sides of his head and squeezed hard as he snarled through his clenched fangs. Tears cut down his temples, hot against his chilled skin. He didn’t want to remember, but he could never forget either.

He didn’t want to go back into the darkness, refused to sink into oblivion again and do the vile bidding of the darkness that lived inside him. Not again.

He grappled with fear, wrestled with the darkness, and fought the tide of memories, and somehow, the gods only knew how, he managed to subdue them and vanquish the raw agony and the sheer terror that threatened to push him back over the edge.

He panted hard, body trembling from the exertion of overcoming the darkness and clawing his way back to the light.

Couldn’t think about that night.

Never look back.

The past was pain.

A constant source of it that scoured his blackened soul.

No looking back.

He inhaled and exhaled, keeping them measured and deep, struggling for calm again as his past and his present churned inside him, rocking him and trying to keep him off balance, on the brink of teetering back into the abyss.

No looking back.

Fuery chanted it in his mind as he sought the calm—the quiet.

It was slow to come while the darkness roared inside him, drawn out by the fear that had paralyzed him, weakened him and opened him to it. Its inky tendrils snaked around his heart and squeezed it in his hollow chest.

Attempted to claim his soul.

Calm seemed an impossible dream while blood coated his tongue.

But gods, he wanted it, reached for it, desperate to shirk the grip of the fear and the darkness again.

They combined to overpower him and he could feel himself slipping again, skidding down that terrifying slope towards the cold forbidding darkness where it reached for him, beckoned him with promises of oblivion and an escape from the madness.

From the pain.

No looking back.

The past was a nightmare.

The past was pain.

Always pain.

He opened his eyes and stared up into the darkness as he forced himself to see where he was in a vain attempt to focus on the present. He was here, in the guild, in the free realm of Hell. He was far away from there. Leagues from the elf kingdom. Centuries away from his past.

Light streaked across the darkness and his eyes swiftly adjusted to the onslaught. A shadow made the slim vertical shaft flicker and then brightness exploded in the room, driving back the darkness entirely.

Just as the male on the threshold of his room drove it from his soul.

Hartt looked at him through sleep-filled eyes and murmured huskily in the elf tongue, “I felt you stir. Everything alright?”

Fuery went to nod, because any other response would leave him weak. Vulnerable. He stopped himself, paused and stared at Hartt where he stood dressed in only a loose pair of black cotton trousers and scrubbing a hand over his short sleep-mussed black-blue hair, yawning the whole time.

He didn’t need to protect himself like that with this male.

Hartt knew the truth of him. Knew his secrets. His story.

Fuery slowly shook his head.

Hartt yawned again, smacked his lips together and rubbed sleep from his violet eyes as he stepped into the room. He quietly closed the door, descending the room back into darkness that lasted only a second. A soft glow burned in the glass lamp on the low round wooden table near the window to Fuery’s left and gradually gained strength, driving back the shadows again and drawing some of the darkness out of the black plastered walls, softening the bleak colour.

Hartt’s doing, because Fuery’s own powers were unpredictable.

Unreliable since that night.

The male padded silently barefoot across the stone floor towards him and sat on the edge of the bed on his left, causing Fuery to roll towards him. The warm light chased over Hartt, throwing the left half of his face into shadow.

Hartt’s violet eyes softened as they met his. “Tell me about it.”

Fuery sank back into the double mattress on a sigh and averted his gaze, pinning it back on the wooden ceiling. Gods, he didn’t want to speak about it. Everything in him screamed to protect himself by making the male go away, but that light Hartt always seemed to draw out of him emulated the lamp, fought to grow brighter and drive the darkness back.

He had to speak about it. Years of experience had taught him that. Holding it inside would only give the darkness a firmer hold on him, making it harder to shake it and increasing the risk of him sinking into that terrible oblivion again.

He didn’t want to go there.

So he forced himself to speak.

“I woke…” His hands tensed against his bare stomach, fingers curling into fists, and he pushed onwards. “I woke with the taste of blood in my mouth.”

He could still taste it now.

He dropped his gaze to his body. No trace of crimson on his torso. He uncurled his hands and lifted them, stared at his fingers and his callused palms, scouring them for a sign, some evidence that he had lost himself to the darkness and had killed.

There wasn’t a single fleck of blood on him.

But it was there in his mouth.

Coppery. Vile.

“I think I did something terrible,” he whispered and shook his head, numbness sweeping through him and bringing fear in its wake, a stronger wave this time, one that threatened to pull him under. Break him. “I don’t remember. I can’t recall how I got to my bed.”

He shifted his gaze to land on Hartt.

The pity shining in Hartt’s violet eyes drove shame through his heart like a spear and he quickly looked away.

“I put you here,” Hartt said softly, his deep voice a bare whisper but one that soothed Fuery, easing his fear and the grip the darkness had on him. “You had an… episode… and I brought you home.”

Relief bloomed inside him, sweet and warm, but the darkness still refused to release him and worry continued to slither inside him like a living thing, hissing in his ear that Hartt was lying, that he had killed and the male was covering it up.

Hartt seemed to see it, because he sighed and jerked his chin towards him. “Open your mouth.”

Fuery didn’t hesitate to do as he was ordered. The male leaned over, peered into his mouth and lifted his top lip with his left hand. When he prodded Fuery’s tongue on the left side, sharp pain lanced the length of it and he flinched, almost biting Hartt’s finger. The male was too fast for him though, reacted in a heartbeat and had his finger clear before Fuery’s fangs could pierce his flesh.

“You must have bitten your tongue when you were thrashing around. That’s all.” Hartt eased back.

Gods, the relief that hit Fuery this time was like ambrosia. It poured through him, washing away his worry and easing the chill from his blood.

Hartt’s lips tugged into a smile and he slowly shook his head. “For a male who makes a living taking lives, you are oddly affected by the idea of killing.”

Fuery knew it was a paradox, that Hartt was right and he had no qualms about his life as an assassin.

But there was a vast difference between killing when he was in control and murder when he was lost to the darkness.

He had felt that way for many centuries.

He had felt it since that night.

Now he couldn’t bear the idea he might kill someone innocent during one of his blackouts.

He looked to Hartt and saw in his eyes that he wouldn’t tell him if he did. Hartt was noble in his desire to protect him from the pain of the things he did when the darkness was in control, but Fuery didn’t want his friend to lie to him, to cover the truth and spare him like that.

He needed to know the things that he did. He had to know them. He could never atone, but he could bear his sins.

Because all that he had done, and all that he might do, paled in comparison to the sin he had committed.

That night.


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BLP REVIEW ~ Tracy

There’s a very good chance I’ve said this before about other instalments in this series… BUT Unchained by a Forbidden Love is up there as a real favourite of the Eternal Mates books to date.

I felt that this book was slightly different than previous in the series – while before we had dealt with issues our main couple had we also had the Archangel storyline featuring quite heavily and a lot of action and suspense around that arc. In Fuery and Shaia book things were a lot more personal and to an extent there was a bit less focus on what was going on around them – though our hero was still carrying out his role as an assassin and we caught up with a few of our favourite characters from earlier in the series – I loved the fact that we followed Shaia and Fuery’s history, heartache and battle to get back to where they once were. 

We knew from before that Fuery was pretty lost to the darkness and not far from becoming totally gone but we had no idea what had caused him to fall so far and when we did discover the cause I could completely understand and my heart broke for them both! 

We jump back and forth through four centuries and the true depth of feeling and love between our couple was palpable. Even though they had been separated for so long, their connection, chemistry and devotion was as deep as it had been when they first knew each other. I loved Shaia’s strength and belief in Fuery, she wouldn’t give up on him even when she was encouraged to.

As you would expect from a Felicity Heaton read the story was action packed, had some twists and turns, battles of the heart and a shed load of heat and attraction.

You’d possibly think that by the 15th book in a series things would maybe be getting a little slow or repetitive but I can honestly say that this series just keeps getting better and I’m looking forward to finding out what’s next for the Eternal Mates

5 hugely deserved stars!!!


Book 1: Kissed by a Dark Prince (FREE AT SELECTED RETAILERS!)
Book 2: Claimed by a Demon King
Book 3: Tempted by a Rogue Prince
Book 4: Hunted by a Jaguar
Book 5: Craved by an Alpha
Book 6: Bitten by a Hellcat
Book 7: Taken by a Dragon
Book 8: Marked by an Assassin
Book 9: Possessed by a Dark Warrior
Book 10: Awakened by a Demoness
Book 11: Haunted by the King of Death
Book 12: Turned by a Tiger
Book 13: Tamed by a Tiger
Book 14: Treasured by a Tiger
Book 15: Unchained by a Forbidden Love



Felicity Heaton is a New York Times and USA Today international best-selling author writing passionate paranormal romance books. In her books, she creates detailed worlds, twisting plots, mind-blowing action, intense emotion and heart-stopping romances with leading men that vary from dark deadly vampires to sexy shape-shifters and wicked werewolves, to sinful angels and hot demons! If you’re a fan of paranormal romance authors Lara Adrian, J R Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Gena Showalter and Christine Feehan then you will enjoy her books too.

If you love your angels a little dark and wicked, the best-selling Her Angel series is for you. If you like strong, powerful, and dark vampires then try the Vampires Realm series or any of her stand-alone vampire romance books. If you’re looking for vampire romances that are sinful, passionate and erotic then try the best-selling Vampire Erotic Theatre series. Or if you prefer huge detailed worlds filled with hot-blooded alpha males in every species, from elves to demons to dragons to shifters and angels, then take a look at the new Eternal Mates series.

If you want to know more about Felicity, or want to get in touch, you can find her at the following places:

WEBSITE | BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM


 

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