Category Archives: Favourites

Title: Country Liquor

Series: Sugar County Boys #4

Author: Madison Faye

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 17, 2018

Blurb

Country devil. Tongue like heaven.

They call him the Liquor King.

Wild, untamed, dangerous, and undeniably dominant.

This is wrong. This is filthy.

…But this just might be love at first lick.

Winona:

First he made me scream, then he made me gasp for more.

I made a deal with the devil. I’ll be his fake wife for a cut of the huge inheritance he’s about to land. It’s all supposed to be pretend. But that’s before I get lost in those gorgeous, fierce eyes. That’s before I fall for that filthy mouth, those
tempting lips, and that body carved out of marble.

…That’s before I wake up hungover, half-naked, and totally actually married to the hottest, most toe-curlingly alpha moonshine-making outlaw in Sugar County.

I’m so screwed.

Silas:

Being a Marine sniper left me a little wild. But seeing her? Well, that makes me crazy.

The moment I lay eyes on her, I know one thing: she’s mine. That firecracker mouth, those curves that beg for my filthy hands to hold on tight, and that ass a man could sink his teeth into. She has me obsessed and driven to claim by any means necessary – even if I have to throw her over my shoulder caveman-style.

Sweet as pie and hot as summer rain. She’ll be my captive. My prize. My perfect country bride. I’m gonna show her how we do liquor out here in the country.

…And I could sip her sugar all day long.

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Author Bio

#1 bestselling contemporary romance author Madison Faye is the dirty alter ego of the very wholesome, very normal suburban housewife behind the stories. While she might be a wife, mom, and PTA organizer on the outside, there’s nothing but hot, steamy, and raunchy fantasies brewing right beneath the surface!

Tired of keeping them hidden inside or only having them come out in the bedroom, they’re all here in the form of some wickedly hot stories. Single-minded alpha hero, sinfully taboo relationships, and wildly over-the-top scenarios. If you love it extra dirty, extra hot, and extra naughty, this is the place for you! (Just don’t tell the other PTA members you saw her here…)

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BLOG TOUR ~ Dirty Headlines by L.J. Shen

Sep 14

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

DH_BLOG TOUR.jpg

“Dirty Headlines is a fantastic enemies to lovers office romance with a perfect filthy
asshole hero that I wish I’d written myself.”
– Laurelin Paige, New York Times bestselling author

Dirty Headlines, an all-new sexy, enemies-to-lovers romance from
bestselling author L.J. Shen is available NOW!

Célian Laurent.

Manhattan royalty.

Notorious playboy.

Heir to a media empire.

…And my new boss.

I could have impressed him, if not for last month’s unforgettable one-night stand.

I left it with more than orgasms and a pleasant memory—namely, his wallet.

Now he’s staring me down like I’m the dirt under his Italian loafers, and I’m supposed to take it.

But the thing about being Judith “Jude” Humphry is I have nothing to lose.

Brooklyn girl.

Infamously quirky.

Heir to a stack of medical bills and a tattered couch.

When he looks at me from across the room, I see the glint in his eyes, and that makes us rivals.

He knows it.

So do I.

Every day in the newsroom is a battle.

Every night in his bed, war.

But it’s my heart at stake, and I fear I’ll be raising the white flag.

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2wLg9ka

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DirtyHeadlines:

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Add to GoodReads: https://bit.ly/2GuCKIB

DH 6 heartbreakingly beautiful.jpg

Excerpt:

He had an American accent. Not French. American. Smooth. Familiar. Ordinary. He fired out sentences at the speed of light. I heard him, but I couldn’t listen. Shock gripped my body as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. My dirty one-night stand was my boss. My lying, American boss. And now I had to deal with that—hopefully for a very long time, because I desperately needed this job.

Someone snapped their fingers, and my gaze shot from Célian’s face to Grayson.

His forehead had crumpled into a frown. “You look like you’re trying hard not to cry or having a really intense orgasm. I’m hoping for you that it’s the latter and some kind of a weird-slash-awesome condition. You okay?”

I nodded, scraping up a smile. “Sorry. Zero orgasms happening under this dress. I just zoned out for a second.”Lies. I was about to orgasm just remembering how good Célianhad felt parting my thighs with his big, callused hands and dipping his tongue into my slit.

Then words stopped streaming down on everyone’s heads like a scalding shower, and I realized that indeed there was something worse than hearing Célianspeak in his perfect American English. And that was not hearing him speak at all. Because now the icicles were pointed at me like a cocked gun.

I glanced up to meet his gaze. He stared at me for exactly one second before his focus snapped to Grayson. “Am I understood, Gregory?” he asked.

Gregory?

“Crystal clear, sir,” Grayson bowed, his voice trembling at the edges.

Célian jerked his chin toward me. “Your cover girl material is going downhill.”

God. Damn. Bastard.

He recognized me, and I knew it. His eyes had kindled, melting the ice and growing darker the minute our gazes mingled. He remembered, and maybe it killed him that I was here in the same way it buried me.

I want my iPod back, my gaze told him. I had over three thousand songs on that thing, and they were all too good to be wasted on that jerk.

“Jude Humphry. Junior reporter. It’s her first day,” Grayson highlighted, almost pleadingly. He shifted in my direction, as if he might need to physically protect me from the sharp-tongued, suited monster.

I suppressed a smile when I realized I’d told Célianmy last name was Spears. Well, he certainly wasn’t a Timberlake. He was a Laurent. An American monarch through and through. A billionaire, a powerful force, and judging by our one and only encounter—a raging playboy.

This man was inside you, I internally shrieked. And not just once. His cock was buried so deep in you, you screamed. You can still taste the salty, earthy flavor of his cum.You know he has a freckle on his lower back. You know what sound he makes when he empties inside a woman.

I internally thanked my mind for ruining my panties in public, and nodded. “Pleasure to meet you, sir.” I offered him my hand, my face flushing with embarrassment at my choice of words.

Everyone was looking at us, and there were at least fifty people in the room. Célian—if that was even his name—ignored my outreached hand. Instead, he turned his face to the man beside him. “Mathias, any other words of wisdom?”

Mathias? Wasn’t that his father? Just how cold was the man with the icy blue eyes?

“I think you touched everything,” said the big boss—and he did have a heavy French accent, so at least the lie had a seed. Mathias stared at me placidly, like he could read the secret his son and I shared on my face.

Célian spun toward me, uncuffing his cufflinks and rolling his sleeves up his veiny forearms. “Accounting can go back to their unfortunate line of work. Couture is excused from this meeting—though not forgiven for their horrid blog. Miss Humphry?” He snapped his fingers impatiently.

He was already waltzing down the narrow hallway, knowing I’d chase him like a puppy, and no doubt taking pleasure in that fact.

“I have a bone to pick with you.”

Bone, boner—same difference, right?

I shot Grayson a please-save-my-butt look. His eyes said, I would but I still have a life to live.

I followed Célian down the hall, my Chucks slapping the floor in a hurry. He sliced through the throng of accountants, then stopped at a corner office, opened the door, barked “Out!” to the man inside, and tilted his head for me to go in. I did. He closed the door, and it was just the two of us.

Two feet of empty space between us.

About the Author:

L.J. Shen is an International #1 best-selling author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.

Before she’d settled down, L.J. (who thinks referring to herself in the third person is really silly, by the way) traveled the world, and collected friends from all across the globe. Friends who’d be happy to report that she is a rubbish companion, always forgets people’s’ birthdays and never sends Christmas cards.

She enjoys the simple things in life, like spending time with her family and friends, reading, HBO, Netflix and internet-stalking Stephen James. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.

Connect with L.J. Shen:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lj_shen

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorljshen/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorljshen/

Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list:

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Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/

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RECENT RELEASE ~ The Bear’s Capture by Jenika Snow

Sep 14

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Amazon

Bear

The solitude had always been my companion and I accepted it, embraced it. Living on my own with the forest as my backyard had always been good enough for me.

Until it no longer was.

The quiet could be loud, the loneliness a burden. I was tired of being on my own. I wanted a wife, needed a woman to call my own.

Who I wanted was Susie.

She was sweet and kind, innocent and soft in all the right places. She made this caveman part of me rise up and take control. The things I wanted to do to her would probably frighten her, scare her away for good.

I didn’t pretend to be a gentle man. I was brutal and savage in my way of living, but when I looked at her I felt something soften within me.

It was time to man up and tell her what I wanted, that she was all I thought about, all I needed in my life.

Susie

I’d loved Bear for as long as I could remember, but I was just the grocery delivery girl, a person he barely talked to, rarely saw when I did my drop-offs. I’d always been too much of a coward to tell him how I felt, so I divulged all my longings and secrets to my best friend.

But I was tired of doing that. I wanted to be honest with him even if that ended up putting this wall between us, even if I got a broken heart.

I was willing to risk all of that to pour my heart out, to finally be honest.

I was willing to do all of that in the hopes he would say he loved me too.

Warning: This may not be a paranormal story, but it has bite to it! With a growly, celibate hero who’s been lusting after one virginal heroine, it’s time he staked his claim in all the ways that matter. Don’t worry, it’s still safe with a HEA and all the sexy goodness that goes along with it!

I curled my hands into tight fists at my side, wanting to go to her, push the long fall of her hair off her shoulder and place my mouth right on the side of her neck. I wanted to lick and suck at her flesh, taste her skin and see if she was as sweet as she looked.

I found myself moving closer, my body having a mind of its own. Every part of me said to screw formalities, to forget about everything else aside from making Susie mine.

The island stopped me from getting any closer, but then she turned around, our gazes clashing, her eyes widening. Her lips were red, naturally shaded that color and so kissable. My cock was hard, thickening behind my jeans, pressing against the zipper. The bastard wanted out, wanted to be buried deep inside of her, claiming her in the rough and primal way that a man did when he was consumed by the only woman he had ever wanted.

The longer we stood there staring at each other, the more I saw her chest rising and falling, faster, harder. Her pupils became dilated, her mouth parting slightly. The air between us heated, became thick, almost suffocating. I lowered my gaze to her chest, not able to help myself, wanting to see the mounds behind the cotton of her shirt. Her nipples were hard, pressing against the fabric, making my mouth water.Things were moving fast, my arousal taking control. There was so much that needed said, so much that needed done before it got to this level.
But I couldn’t stop, couldn’t control myself.

I saw the way her throat moved when she swallowed, her nervousness clear. Hell, I could practically smell her emotions.

She moved away from the island, her little teeth pulling at her bottom lip. My cock jerked behind my pants, the tip becoming slick with pre-cum.
“Bear.” She said my name breathlessly.

I envisioned her saying that in the throes of passion, her lying in my bed with me over her, her hair fanned out across my white sheets … my cock deep in her body.

Jenika Snow, a USA Today bestselling author, lives in the northeast with her husband and their children.She prefers gloomy days, eats the topping off of her pizza first, and prefers to wear socks year round.

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REVIEW ~ SHEER (Exposed #3) by Sarah Robinson

Sep 14

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Title: Sheer

Series: Exposed #3

Author: Sarah Robinson

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About the book:

The long-awaited conclusion to the series that brought you NUDES (“passionate, emotional, and uplifting!” – #1 NY Times Bestseller Lauren Blakely) and BARE (“heartfelt and sexy!” – USA Today Bestselling Author Kate Meader), a young singer with stars in her eyes falls for a composer whose sordid background might strip them bare.

Grant Mercer is on the run from his secrets…

This was supposed to be an easy assignment—travel halfway across the globe and compose the musical score for an upcoming Hollywood movie by one of the biggest production companies in Los Angeles. One and done like dozens of times before. I wasn’t supposed to have my entire life crumble around me the moment my plane took off. I wasn’t supposed to meet her.

Intriguing and covered in ink, Simone enters my life like a storm, leaving only heartbreak in her wake. I should keep my distance. Hell, she should keep hers. Instead, we did the exact opposite.

Simone Reynolds is mending a broken heart…

Just months after finaling in one of television’s most watched singing competitions, I should be riding the high of my life. I should be celebrating starring in a musical film predicted to rock the box office. It’s hard to bask in my success when my family is suffering a loss we never saw coming. And then there’s Grant—brooding and rugged and an absolute pain in my ass as he messes with my movie.

He’s as broken as I am, but the perfect harmony is only a leap of faith away.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY:

EXCERPT

Entering the warehouse, Grant noted immediately that it was full of bustling personnel shouting across the open space as they hammered and built. His eyes widened at the utter chaos of it all, and yet, somehow everyone knew what they were doing and where they were going.

“They’re currently building the sets for the movie,” Ben explained loudly over the volume of the studio. He pointed toward a few different areas, explaining what each of those locations was going to be by the time filming started. “Ah, there’s Simone.”

Grant followed Ben’s gesture to a woman dangling from a long piece of white silk suspended from the high beams above. Short dark hair with red streaks stood out against the white silk, and tattoos spread across her back and one arm. Her knee was bent around the fabric while the rest of her hung below, twisting in the air.

As they got closer, Grant heard the man standing a few feet underneath her instructing her to project louder.

“How loud can I possibly be upside down?” she snapped back. “I’m singing to the floor.”

Grant tried not to laugh at her snarky response. He struggled not to notice how gorgeous she looked in a tight leotard and leggings that perfectly contoured her figure. Long, muscular legs stretched out over her upside-down small waist and perfect round breasts, she was as hypnotic to look at as she was to hear sing.

“From the top,” the man continued, ignoring her complaints.

She sighed and swung her second leg up over the fabric just as Ben called out to her. “Simone!”

Her leg faltered as her gaze was pulled toward Ben, and she suddenly slipped from the fabric’s embrace. The man beneath her stepped backwards, as if to avoid her falling on him.

Jumping forward, Grant reached out and caught her in his arms as she tumbled, just before she hit the ground.

“Ah!” She gasped, the wind clearly knocked out of her at the impact against his arms. She coughed and held her chest as he lowered her feet to the ground. Wide, bright brown eyes stared back at him as she caught her breath and a soft pink painted over her cheeks.

“Are you okay?” Grant asked her, ignoring the fact that the man who had been coaching her was now rushing over like he’d given a crap in the first place.

“Simone, are you okay?” the man asked.

“Step back,” Grant said to him, his hand still on Simone’s waist as she steadied herself. Grant wanted to punch the idiot in the face. “You were going to let her fall.”

The man put his hands up but didn’t move away. “It happened so fast! That’s not my fault.”

Grant shot the coward a piercing glare. “I said step back.”

“Okaaaay… Everyone calm down.” Ben intervened, putting a hand on Simone’s shoulder. Grant let go and gave him room. Ben turned to Simone. “Simmy, how are you feeling?”

She nodded her head slowly. “Fine. Just caught me by surprise is all.”

Ben frowned, still looking worried. He waved over a production assistant wearing a headset walking by. “Hey, put in an order for a mat for when Ms. Reynolds is doing her aerial silk.”

“Ben, the entire purpose is to not need safety measures,” Simone tried to interject. “It’s all about talent and precision.”

“When you get some talent, then maybe you don’t need a mat,” Grant replied for Ben.

Ben laughed, but Simone looked ready to murder him as she cut her eyes his direction. “I’ll have you know that I’ve been practicing for years,” she informed him. “And I’m very good at it.”

Grant crossed his arms over his chest and leveled his gaze at her. He wasn’t about to miss out on a pay day he desperately needed because the lead actress had a death wish. “Sure, if you don’t count almost falling to your death.”

“Simone, this is Grant Mercer. He’s the composer for Kiss Me, Kate, and you’ll be working with him on your musical numbers.” Ben pointed between the two. “And Grant, this is Simone Reynolds, our lead.”

She put out her hand toward him, her red-streaked hair falling forward across her shoulder as she reached out. “It’s nice to meet you.”

From her tone, he didn’t believe for a second that she thought meeting him was nice at all. Clearly, she’d forgotten the whole saved-her-life-a-few-seconds-ago thing. “Charmed,” he replied, shaking her hand. “And you’re welcome.”

Her nostrils flared, but she gave a small nod, her chin pointed high. “Thanks for catching me.”

He grinned, seeing how hard that admission must have been for her. As annoying as she’d already proven to be, he had to admit that he was starting to look forward to working with her. She was every bit the wild spirit he’d seen on television, and there was nothing more fun than challenging a woman who would certainly never back down from a fight.

BLP REVIEW ~ Tracy

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Exposed series by Sarah Robinson and Sheer was a great way to finish it off.

I liked Simone and Grant a lot – though I must admit, at first, I wasn’t sure that I was gonna be a fan of our leading man.

Their connection and attraction was not a given following their initial meeting but when they did get together they were HOT!!! They had fun, worked hard and didn’t let their relationship get in the way of the film they were involved in but the one thing that bugs me massively is the biggest issue they had – lack of communication… well, actually, Grant was the one with the communication problem (but, as always, if we didn’t have that plot device we wouldn’t have the angst that came with it!)

I love catching up with the other Reynolds sisters and those epilogues were fantastic!

A solid 4 star read and one I’d happily recommend you read – but do go through the series in order!

Start at the Beginning…

NUDES
(Exposed #1)

Nudes (Exposed, #1)

Contemporary romance author Sarah Robinson brings readers a new standalone novel set in the glamorous hills of Hollywood and tackling challenging themes like the intersection of sexuality and female empowerment.

Ben Lawson is making a comeback…
After a few tabloid headlines, they think they know me. They don’t know a damn thing. As CEO of a movie production company, I’ll show them who I really am when we hit it big at the box office. My ex thought her smear tactics would ruin me, but I’m unbreakable. Rising from the debris, I swore I’d never let a woman distract me like that again. But then, my leading actress walked on the set and changed everything.

Seductive, sexy, and unapologetic, Aria Rose could break me. I wanted to help her, protect her…love her. Instead, I destroyed her.

Aria Rose is baring it all….
I knew better. I knew not to trust another Hollywood heartthrob with a reputation like his. He was my boss and became my ruin. I should have stayed far away from him. Ben Lawson promised me the world. He even promised me his heart.

But he destroyed everything–my heart, my career, us.

Disclaimer: This novel is for 18+ years old as it contains graphic sexual content.

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BARE
(Exposed #2)

Following the popular series debut—NUDES was praised as “passionate, emotional and uplifting” by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Lauren Blakely—contemporary romance author Sarah Robinson weaves a new standalone story where a second chance at romance is found on a Hollywood film set and secrets always have a way of being…exposed.

Reed Scott is the hottest actor in LA…
Being a Hollywood heartthrob has its perks, and I’ve damn sure enjoyed every one of them, both on and off the silver screen. The tabloids loved every second of exploiting my privacy, chronicling my mistakes in ink for the whole world to see. Accepting the lead role in a romantic dance film was guaranteed to make me a box office hit and help me rewrite my image, until the choreographer hired to train me turned out to be the only woman I’d ever loved and lost.

As beautiful and enticing as ever, Teagan walks in and reminds me of the worst mistake I’ve ever made. She should hate me, and now she has the power to destroy everything I am.

Teagan Reynolds is picking up the pieces…
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…never going to happen. I fell in love with Reed Scott once and it nearly killed me—literally. The last thing I want to do now is teach him how to dance, but I need this job and there’s no way I’m letting him take yet another thing away from me.

Reed is in my world now, and this time we’re dancing by my rules.

PURCHASE on AUDIOBOOK:
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About Sarah Robinson:

Aside from being a Top 10 Barnes & Noble and Amazon Bestseller, Sarah Robinson is a native of the Washington, DC area and has both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in criminal psychology. She works as a counselor by day and romance novelist by night. She owns a small zoo of furry pets and is actively involved in volunteering in her community.

Subscribe to her newsletter at http://www.subscribepage.com/sarahrobinsonnewsletter

Visit the author’s website for more information about Sarah and her books: http://booksbysarahrobinson.net/

Connect with Sarah:

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Tags: @booksbysarahrobinson, @InkslingerPR

RELEASE DAY BLITZ ~ THE TRUTH ABOUT US (Truth Duet #2) by Aly Martinez

Sep 13

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

The conclusion to the heart-stopping Truth Duet by Aly Martinez just went live!

Today we are celebrating the release of the second book in The Truth Duet by Aly Martinez. The Truth About Us is now available! The first book in the duet, The Truth About Lies, is available too and both titles can be read for FREE as part of KindleUnlimited!

READ THE TRUTH ABOUT US NOW:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

THE TRUTH ABOUT US
(The Truth Duet, #2)

Read it now:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Synopsis:

Truth: Penn Walker entered my life like a summer storm—dark, ominous, and filled with thunder.

After witnessing my husband’s murder, I didn’t have much of a heart left to offer a man.

But Penn took it all.

Every jagged shard.

Every broken bit.

Even the dirty and twisted pieces that I wish never existed.

Lie: I didn’t need him to save me.

Lie: I knew exactly who he was.

Lie: Losing him wouldn’t destroy me.

But that’s the thing about lies—you never know who to believe.

Add THE TRUTH ABOUT US (The Truth Duet, #2) to Goodreads

THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES
(The Truth Duet, #1)

AVAILABLE NOW:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Be sure to follow Aly’s newsletter for news about the duet.

Add THE TRUTH ABOUT LIES (The Truth Duet, #1) to Goodreads

AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

AUTHOR LINKS:

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RELEASE BLITZ ~ Cabin 12 (Rock Point Series #2) by Freya Barker

Sep 13

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Title: Cabin 12

Series: Rock Point Series #2

Author: Freya Barker

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: September 13, 2018

Even at thirty seven, with a challenging but rewarding career as a paramedic, Bella Gomez is treated as the baby of the family. It’s made her allergic to anyone meddling, so she chooses to keep mostly to herself. Unfortunately that doesn’t stop her family from inserting themselves in her life. Nor does it deter the one man she knows she shouldn’t get close to from showing up on her doorstep.

Jasper Greene, an FBI agent with the La Plata County field office, doesn’t even know the meaning of family. His team is his family, which is why—when his boss asks him to keep an eye on his baby sister—Jasper readily complies. Even when the sister in question is a spectacularly developed princess with plenty of attitude.

With a shooter on the loose and corruption running rampant, Bella is a magnet for trouble, and Jasper finds himself with his hands full—in more ways than one.

Freya is a go-to author for me. Her words and sexy, suspenseful stories never fail to keep me reading late into the night! — Brynne Asher, Author of the Carpino and the Killers series.

“Cabin 12 captivated me from the very first page. Edge-of-your-seat pacing, dynamic characters, and the perfect amount of heat…this is without a doubt my top read of 2018!” — Anna Paige, Author of the Thrill of the Chase series

“Hey.”I whip around at the sound of Jasper’s voice, who is leaning against one of the porch posts, looking at me from under his eyebrows.

“Oh. Hey,” is all I manage, a bit tongue-tied, and more than a little embarrassed. I never even tried to contact him to thank him. Sure, I no longer have a phone, but I could easily have gotten the number off Damian.

“Damian asked me to come and take your statement.”

The closed off look on his face, combined with those dispassionate words, send me straight from embarrassed to injured, and anger wraps around me like a protective cloak.

Really?

“Oh, he did, did he? Let me get this straight; you’re telling me the reason you’re here is because my brother asked you? That’s priceless.” I don’t even bother holding back on the venom in my tone.

“Squirt…” he mumbles, but I’m already too far lost in my head of steam to let the nickname, which just days ago would make me feel safe and protected, sway me from my path.

“No. You don’t get to call me that. Didn’t take much to set you running did it? Did you suddenly decide I was too much of a challenge? Too damaged for ya? Too fragile?” Hot tears come spilling down my cheek as I rant, and I agitatedly brush at them.

“That’s not—” he starts, but I stop him with a hand in his face.

I’m angry and so hurt. I trusted him, opened up for him in a way I never had for anyone. I feel exposed to the core, and found lacking. Again.

Suddenly deflated, I squeeze my eyes shut and drop my head. “Tell my brother he can come get his damn statement himself.”

Without even looking at him, I turn back inside, swing the door shut behind me, and walk straight into Kerry, who closes me in her arms.

“Honey, maybe you should give him a chance to talk before—”

Behind me the door slams open and I’m suddenly pulled from Kerry’s hold and swung around by an angry looking Jasper.

“Goddammit, Bella,” he swears, cupping my face in his large hands and tilting it up. “Jesus, how can someone so smart get it so fucking backward?” He barely gets his words out before his lips take mine in a bruising kiss, laced with anger and regret. I find myself leaning in and almost whimper when he pulls back, leaving his forehead pressed against mine. “Don’t you see?” he mumbles softly. “It’s me who comes up short.”

Next thing I know, he is stalking out the door.

“Oh my,” Kerry whispers behind me.

“What just happened?” I ask no one in particular, trying to get my bearings after going through what feels like an emotional spin cycle. My eyes land on Kerry, who is inexplicably smiling. “What?”

“That boy’s got it bad.”

Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

Driven to make her books about ‘real’ people; with characters who are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills, and some hot, sizzling sex in their lives.

A recipient of the RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for best first book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya has not slowed down.

She continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

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BOOK TOUR ~ Courted by her Cougar (Cougar Creek Mates Series #3) by Felicity Heaton

Sep 8

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

New York Times best-selling paranormal romance author Felicity Heaton is here today for the book tour of her new shifter romance release, Courted by her Cougar, the third book in her brand new Cougar Creek Mates Series. Set in her popular Eternal Mates world, Cougar Creek Mates takes you into the deep Canadian wilderness to a secret place that’s home to a cougar shifter pride led by four sexy brothers, each guaranteed to steal your heart and set it racing! With all four books in the series releasing just weeks apart, this is going to be one hot summer.

Check out the book, download it with your Kindle Unlimited subscription if you have one,
and be sure to enter the awesome grand giveaway happening at her website!

About the Book

Courted by her Cougar
(Cougar Creek Mates Shifter Romance Series Book 3)
Felicity Heaton

Madness is sweeping through Cougar Creek, and Flint wants no part of it. The fever has two of his brothers in love already, and Flint is damned if he’s giving up the bachelor life to tie himself to one female, but when a perimeter sweep has him running into an exotic and enthralling beauty who rouses his instincts as a cougar shifter and a male, the hunt is on.

All Yasmin is interested in is making sure her friend, Ivy, is safe, but the alluring black-haired man with a wicked smile she meets on the path to the creek has her thinking about other things. When an incident at Cougar Creek leads to her revealing a secret, and Flint’s persistence pushes her to a rash decision, her entire world is in danger of being turned upside down.

With the gathering in full swing, and males determined to prove their worth to Yasmin, Flint discovers he’s not immune to the madness sweeping through the creek, because he’ll do whatever it takes to claim victory and win Yasmin’s heart… no matter how dangerous it is.

Read it with your Kindle Unlimited Subscription or buy now from…

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com.au

Enter the grand tour-wide giveaway to win one of a $75, $50 or $25 Amazon Gift Card at the Courted by her Cougar book page.
This giveaway is international and open to everyone, and ends at midnight on September 23rd. Enter now:

Yasmin huffed as she pushed her ebony waves out of her face, feeling the dampness at the back of her neck that irritated the hell out of her as her hair stuck to it, clung in a way that made her want to do something. Scream probably.

She stopped near a towering pine that looked like every other damned tree in the forest and turned in a circle, trying to spot the path. There had to be a path. She was sure she had been following one from the trailhead where she had left her car parked next to Ivy’s Jeep, and several other vehicles that had told her she was in the right area.

Maybe it had been an animal track.

A cool breeze blew up the gentle slope to her right, carrying the scent of water. She could hear the river in that direction. Maybe it would be wise to head downhill until she found it and then track it towards the area that her friend had called ‘the creek’ more than once. There had been a river in Ivy’s photographs. It stood to reason that she would find her friend near the one she could hear.

Yasmin shrugged out of her heavy pack, set it down on the rough earth between the tangled roots of the pines and rifled through the side pockets, her mood taking a nosedive as she struggled to find what she was looking for.

“A-ha.” She grinned as she opened the fifth pocket—seriously, why so many pockets on these stupid backpacks—and found her elastics and other beauty items.

She straightened, lifted her hair away from her neck, scrunched it together and tied it in place with the band. Parts of it instantly fell down again, framing her face, but it would do for now. All she cared about was keeping her neck clear. It was bliss as the breeze caressed it, had a soft sigh leaving her lips as she savoured it.

When the wind died down again, she stripped off her black jacket, because a winter coat combined with her royal purple sweater and the long-sleeved cream t-shirt she wore beneath that had probably been a bit much. She had been expecting the weather to be cooler than it was. There had been snow on the mountains in Ivy’s photographs after all.

She peered through the dense trees to catch a sliver of the mountain that loomed closest to her. There was still snow on it. Apparently, snow on the peaks didn’t mean it was cold in the valley. It was rare she learned something new, novel in fact. What else was she going to learn on this adventure?

Yasmin hefted the pack back onto her shoulders. The weight of it pressed down on her and she twisted and grimaced, trying to get comfortable again. Maybe the sunny day wasn’t solely responsible for her working up a sweat. The heaviness of her pack combined with the exertion of the hike probably would have been enough to have her running a little hot even if it had been a chilly day.

She threaded her coat over the bottom of the right strap of her pack, so it pressed against her back and hip and wouldn’t fall into the dirt, and kicked off again, picking her way through the trees as she headed downhill towards the river.

A man with wild black hair and golden eyes stepped into her path, emerging from the trees like some sort of predator to stare her down.

She casually drew to a halt four metres from him.

Raked her gaze over him, taking in a navy shirt that stretched tight over his athletic build, long legs encased in very practical black trousers, and scuffed boots that looked as if he had trekked hundreds of miles in them and needed a new pair. Too cheap to purchase them? Or sentimental and attached to these ones for some reason?

She lifted her head back up to meet his golden eyes.

He didn’t look the sentimental type.

His straight jaw set hard, his lips compressing, causing the scar that streaked across the left side of his mouth to pull on his cheek.

He looked as if he wanted to growl at her.

Yasmin concluded there was a high probability he could help her. “I’m lost, can you tell me the way—”

“Private property. Turn your ass around and march it back the way you came,” he interjected, voice a gravelly snarl that had more bite than the local bears.

That was rude.

She narrowed her dark eyes on him. “No. If you would let me finish.”

He shook his head. “Not going to happen. This is no place for camping. Private property.”

“Yes, you’ve said that twice now, and if you would let me finish.”

He took a hard step towards her, his eyes glowing brighter. Oh, if he wanted to do angry, she could show him angry.

“Listen,” she snapped. “I know my friend is somewhere around here, and I am going to see her. Something tells me you know her. Ivy Wentworth?”

The barest flicker of surprise lit his stormy gold eyes before he schooled his features, hardening them again. “Don’t know her. Off you go now. Try the other direction.”

Liar.

“The other direction is my car.” And his, she was guessing.

It was probably the battered ancient pick-up she had seen that had more rust than paint on it.

“Good.” He folded his arms across his chest and glowered at her.

“So I’m not going back that way. I’m going this way.” She started left, because he had obviously come from nearby and that meant she was close to the creek.

He was in front of her in a flash, blocking her way. “I can’t allow that. Turn your ass around and march it back to your car.”

That was it.

Yasmin mimicked him, crossing her arms over her breasts, and the bastard had the audacity to glance at them as her actions pressed them together and upwards in her purple sweater.

“Try to make me leave,” she growled as she glared at him. “I dare you. We’ll see who comes off worse.”

His golden eyes leaped up to hers, and this time he didn’t hide his surprise.

Not used to strong females?

He was taller than she was, his build slim but clearly powerful. His shirt was tight enough that she could see it was hiding a muscled torso, and he had rolled up the sleeves to reveal tightly corded forearms that flexed as she stared at them.

Yasmin lifted her eyes back to his. “I’m going to see my friend whether you like it or not. You can’t stop me.”

He tried anyway, moving left and right to block her path as she tried to get past him.

Exasperating man!

She was close to hitting him to get him to stop.

He blocked her again when she made another attempt to pass him rather than giving in to the urge to clobber him. “How do you know this friend of yours is at the creek?”

She almost smiled. The creek. So he had come from the place where Ivy was staying with her new man. Which meant he was going to take her there, whether he liked it or not.

She feinted going left, and when he moved to block her, she went right and slipped past him. He growled in frustration and grabbed her wrist, and she turned on a pinhead, slammed her palm against his chest and shoved him back into a tree. He went easily, wasn’t a challenge at all.

Mostly because he was holding back.

Thought her feeble? Thought he might hurt her by accident if he exerted a little strength? She wanted to laugh at that.

Yasmin huffed and splayed her hand out against the centre of his chest, and yes, it was firm beneath her palm, muscles rigid and tensed, and there was that strength he was hiding from her.

“Are you going to take me to Ivy now?” She inched closer to him and pressed her hand harder against his chest to keep his spine pinned to the tree, just in case he thought about moving.

But he didn’t seem inclined to break free of her hold.

He regarded her with gold eyes that held a spark of heat, his silence stretching out for a moment that was so long she began to feel a little uncomfortable as she stood with her hand on his chest, his heart pounding against it, steady and strong.

She also started to wonder whether she had done some sort of permanent damage to him. She was on the verge of asking him whether he needed medical assistance when he finally responded.

He dipped his chin in a nod, his eyes remaining locked with hers as he spoke. “What’s your name?”

Not quite the response she had anticipated, but she would give it to him, because unlike him, she wasn’t rude. “Yasmin.”

He glanced down. “I’ve heard of you.”

She followed his gaze, tensed and removed her hand from his chest as she realised she was still touching him. His eyes lifted to her, banked heat in them, a flicker of interest that had her wanting to look away from him as a fire tried to lick over her cheeks. She resisted the need that raced through her and the blush, quelling both of them.

“I don’t doubt that.” She kept her voice even and emotionless, so he got the message that she didn’t feel the attraction that zinged between them. She really didn’t. “Ivy emailed me telling me she met a guy, fell in love of all things and that she wouldn’t be home for a while. She assured me that she was fine, but I’m here to see that for myself.”

“Commendable.” He knew big words. Trying to impress her?

She nodded. “I like to think so.”

He pushed away from the tree, coming to tower over her, easily eight inches taller than she was, and looked down at her.

His handsome face softened, that heat in his golden gaze lingering. “I’m Flint, Rath’s brother. Ivy is fine. She’s in love with Rath and nothing bad is happening here.”

He could attempt to appease her all he wanted. It wasn’t going to make her leave.

“Good.” She adjusted the bag on her back. “Because I prefer to heal injuries rather than cause them.”

A hint of a smile, enough that she could see that he would be devastating if he cracked a full blown grin. “Came here prepared for war?”

Yasmin nodded again. “If necessary. Ivy is my friend. My only friend.”

That had him turning serious, the dark slashes of his eyebrows knitting hard as the corners of his lips turned downwards. “I get that. You’re protective. I have a protective streak of my own… one I’ll introduce you to if you try to do anything to hurt my brother, including attempting to take Ivy from him.”

She arched an eyebrow at that. Protective of his brother’s happiness? That was commendable, as he would say.

“You think you can take me? Good luck with that.” She strode past him.

His eyes landed on her back and raked down her spine, a hot shiver following in their wake, and he purred, “I know I can take you.”

Read it with your Kindle Unlimited Subscription or buy now from…

Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com.au

Book 1: Claimed by her Cougar – Available in Kindle Unlimited!
Book 2: Captured by her Cougar – Available in Kindle Unlimited!
Book 3: Courted by her Cougar – Available in Kindle Unlimited!
Book 4: Craved by her Cougar (coming 29^th September 2018)

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:

Posted in #KU, #shifter, Authors & Books, Blitz, Blurb, Book Tour, Buy Links, Excerpt, Favourites, Giveaway, More in the Series, Must Read, New Releases, Recommended, Review to Come

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SALE BLITZ ~ Keeping 6 (Rock Point series #1) by Freya Barker

Sep 8

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Title: Keeping 6
Series: (Rock Point #1)
Author: Freya Barker

Genre: Romantic Suspense
Cover Designer: Freya Barker
Hosted by: Buoni Amici Press, LLC.

Bookstore owner Kerry Emerson finally seems to be back in control of her life. Her failure of a marriage firmly in her rearview mirror and her recent business expansion a success, she is in charge of her own future. One that is looking better than ever.
The sight of the tall man, with the familiar salt and pepper goatee pushing open the door of her store, sets her hair on end. He doesn’t exactly bring good memories.

FBI Special Agent in Charge, Damian Gomez, is just looking for a decent cup of coffee when he walks into the small store offering books and brew. The pretty, feisty woman behind the counter is an unexpected surprise. Not at all unpleasant, especially since her finger that used to hold a wedding ring is now bare.
Her wild hair, boho style and silvery grey eyes suddenly hold a lot of promise. But when his office is pulled into an international investigation into the trafficking of rare books and manuscripts, the straight-laced SAC realizes he has to keep his distance from the woman who might well be involved.

Easier said than done, since fate seems determined to throw them together.

Freya Barker loves writing about ordinary people with extraordinary stories.
Driven to make her books about ‘real’ people; with characters who are perhaps less than perfect, but just as deserving of romance, thrills and chills, and their own slice of happy.
A recipient of the RomCon “Reader’s Choice” Award for best first book, “Slim To None”, and Finalist for the Kindle Book Award with “From Dust”, Freya has not slowed down.
She continues to add to her rapidly growing collection of published novels as she spins story after story with an endless supply of bruised and dented characters, vying for attention!

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RELEASE BLITZ ~ Mess Me Up (Bear Bottom Guardians MC #1) by Lani Lynn Vale

Sep 7

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

Title: Mess Me Up

Series: Bear Bottom Guardians MC #1

Author: Lani Lynn Vale

Genre: MC Romance

Release Date: September 6, 2018

When Rome Pierce moved to Bear Bottom, Texas, it was his intention to lay low. To not be seen. To find a way to heal his body and soul—as well as his son’s.

Nobody would know by looking at him that he used to play professional football. Not with the Bare Bottom MC cut covering his back, and definitely not with his friendly smile completely obliterated.

No longer is there charm in each smooth word that comes out of his mouth. What’s left is an angry, bitter, scared man that’s terrified one day he’s going to wake up and his entire world is going to be gone.

Nobody knows what drove him to leave the game he loved—nobody but her.

She’s the one person that has helped him make it through the dark days and even darker nights. She’s the bright and shining star in his pitch-black sky.

And he doesn’t even know her name.

He should be afraid that she knows things that not anyone—not even his best friend—knows.

Yet, with each encounter, he gives what little bit of his soul remains, and before he knows it only two people on this earth—one dying, and one too afraid to live—make his life worth living.

Until one day he has to choose—the love of his life, or the life he brought into this world.

Two impossible situations. One decision that would change him forever.

Displaying blog_review.jpg
I’d love to spend a little time inside Lani Lynn Vale‘s mind…. how she keeps track of the characters, story threads, events, relationships and everything other little details that she winds through her stories is quite something and it all hooks me from the very first page!

Mess Me Up is Rome and Izzy’s story and it’s heartbreaking pretty much from the off. It has all the feels, emotions, action, humour and great characters that we’ve come to expect from LLV but it was the hurt, heart ache and ultimate heart break that both our Isadora and Romero experienced that had me glued to my kindle, unable to tear myself away from their story.
Seriously, make sure you’ve got at least a box of tissues at the ready and maybe don’t read this in public or you’re gonna get some weird ass looks!

We had met Rome in So Sad, Too Bad in the Simple Man seriesso knew a little about what was going on in his personal life but when we got to see the full extent of his actions that destroyed his friendship with Tyler and the subsequent events that’s when you realise just how hard his life has been and how much he was floundering on his own and just how devastated he is.

Izzy has her own fair share of heartbreak and misery in her life and she too needs someone to ground her and give her some happiness that she truly deserved

I adored how this pair first came into contact, how they came to meet in person and the extent of their love, care and attention that they gave Matias – especially Izzy, given that she had no direct relationship to that wonderful little boy.

I have to admit, I was a complete mess reading this book… it literally did Mess Me Up – the Gods only know how Lani got through writing it because at points I could hardly see the kindle screen for the tears that were constantly falling!!!

This was a tremendous start to the new Bear Bottom Guardians MC series and after meeting the other guys, I cannot wait for their books!

5 great big well deserved stars!

~ Tracy xx

I’m a married mother of three. My kids are all under 9, so I can assure you that they are a handful.

I’ve been with my paramedic husband now for ten years, and we’ve produced three offspring that are nothing like us.I live in the greatest state in the world, Texas.

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BLOG TOUR ~ Hold You Close by Corinne Michaels and Melanie Harlow

Aug 29

Posted by Book Loving Pixies

“Corinne Michaels and Melanie Harlow are a match made in heaven.
Five-Sweet-Stars for this unforgettable collaboration!”
–A.L. Jackson, New York Times bestselling author

Hold You Close, an all-new second chance standalone romance by New York Times bestselling author Corinne Michaels and USA Today bestselling author Melanie Harlow, is available now!

Synopsis

From NYT Bestseller Corinne Michaels & USA Today Bestseller Melanie Harlow, comes a second chance standalone romance.

Ian Chase broke my heart at seventeen, and I’ve spent the last eighteen years hating him for it.

He makes it easy, with his smart mouth and playboy lifestyle—which I unfortunately have to observe since he lives behind me. Every time I see him climbing out of his pool, practically naked and unreasonably sexy, my blood boils.

I’ve always loved to loathe him.

I never planned to need him.

***

London Parish is my little sister’s best friend, not that it stopped me from falling for her.

Our history is complicated. The only thing we have in common is being godparents to my sister’s three adorable kids—until our lives are changed in one tragic moment.

Now we’re trying to raise the children we love, mourn an unthinkable loss, and fight an undeniable attraction.

My life is already upside-down, and the last thing I need is for old feelings to resurface.

Because I’ll never be able to keep her, no matter how hard I try to hold her close.

HoldYouClose-AN

Download Your Copy Today!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2nRoH44

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Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/HoldYouClose

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Paperback: https://amzn.to/2N8rCQC

Audible: https://amzn.to/2wjcSrp

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2L5BB8J

Excerpt:

“Ian,” my bartender, Toby, calls with his hand out.

“What’s up?”

“You have a call.” He pushes the phone toward me.

No one calls the club for me other than vendors, and it’s eleven-thirty at night, so whoever it is can wait.

“I have to deal with something now, send them to my voicemail.”

He shakes his head. “She’s called three times.” The annoyance in his voice is clear, even over the music.

She?

The only woman that would resort to calling the club is my ex-wife. God only knows what bullshit she wants now. For all I know she broke a nail, it’s my fault, and she thinks I should pay for her new manicure, or a hand replacement. She’s like the gift you’ve tried to return but can’t find the receipt for, so you’re stuck with it. I hate unwanted presents, and I hate Jolene.

“Send the devil to my voicemail,” I say and walk away.

I head out to the sidewalk. Drea wasn’t kidding, the line is nuts. “Hello, Officer,” I say to the pudgy cop standing next to the bouncer.

“Mr. Chase, we’re getting complaints,” he says, looking down the sidewalk at the line.

“I can’t help that we’re popular.” I shrug. “I’m at capacity, and can’t kick out the paying customers to take care of the line.”

“You’re obstructing the entrances of other businesses because of the way your overflow lines are set up.”

How the hell would they like me to handle it? We’re not inside the casino, there’s no way to control the line. I’m not about to turn away people when we hit the number ten. This is a business, and part of the free marketing I get is thanks to the line.

“All right, I’ll figure something out.” I grip the back of my neck.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. If this is Jolene, I swear to God, I might lose my fucking mind.

The name flashes across the screen, London Parish. For fuck’s sake. Like I need to deal with my sister’s uptight, irritating best friend right now. London would be incredibly hot if she wasn’t such a raging bitch. I look at my call log and see this is the third time she’s called.

I walk down the strip a little, and after a few deep breaths, I call her back.

“Ian, you need to come to my house.”

I smirk. “Well, this is a first. Did you have the stick removed from your ass?”

“Don’t. Not today, please. Just come here.” I hear her sniff and my protectiveness kicks in. Someone made her cry. We don’t get along at all—partly because we’re polar opposites and partly because of our history—but no one gets to make her cry.

“Are you hurt?” I ask.

“Not in the way you think.” Her voice hitches.

I’ve known London for twenty-five years. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen or heard her cry—I was the reason one of those times.

“What’s wrong? Is it an emergency? Because I’m at work and the club—”

“Now, Ian. You need to come here now.”

She also doesn’t play games.

Fuck.

I look at my watch and blow a deep breath through my nose. It’ll take me at least thirty minutes to get there. This is seriously a shitty night. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Just . . . hurry,” London says and hangs up.

Dread pulls at my stomach, telling me there’s something going on. I don’t know what, but I know I need to get there.

“Get rid of the line, no more get in,” I tell the bouncer, and then head inside.

Drea is at the bar, and my anxiety is starting to grow. London needs me there, why? What happened? Did someone break into her house? Mine? Maybe it has to do with an ex, if she even has one, or it could be nothing like that. Regardless, her voice was shaky and I can’t waste time wondering.

“I have to go,” I tell Drea.

Her eyes widen. “Go? Go where? It’s a packed house.”

“I’m aware of that, but something came up. I need you to handle things tonight.” I turn to Toby. “Stay until Drea is done closing and I want you to escort her to her car at the end of the night.”

He nods.

I never let her walk out of here alone. Even if I have someone coming home with me, Drea’s not going to be unescorted. Too many men get the wrong impression because she’s nice to them. Over my dead body will she be hurt as a result of working at my club.

After I get in the car, my mind is racing. I drive faster than I should, telling myself that London is just being dramatic.

And then I remember . . . she has my nephew and nieces at her house.

My foot pushes down on the pedal of my Jaguar, making the engine howl with each mile. I turn into the development where we both live, pass my house, and head to hers. I still hate that our backyards touch. Every damn day I see her sitting out on her deck, reading her books, looking down at me with her disapproving attitude.

When I get there, the flashing lights of a police car brighten the road. I don’t think. I don’t know if I even put the car in park before I’m out of the vehicle.

“London!” I yell as I rush through the door. “Christopher? Morgan? Ruby?” I call out for the kids, praying it’s not one of them.

When I get to the living room, I release a heavy sigh—they’re all there, not hurt.

Then I see the tears streaming down Morgan’s face. London gets to her feet. Her eyes are red, puffy, and black mascara runs down her cheeks. “Ian.” She chokes on my name.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

The girls start to cry again, and my nephew pulls them into his arms.

London moves toward me, placing her hand on my chest. “They’re gone.”

“Who?” I ask, confused.

“Sabrina and David,” she whispers.

Yeah, they went on a trip. Why the hell are they crying? “This is what you called me for? They’ll be home in a few days. Why are you crying too?” I ask.

Her green eyes meet mine and her lips part. “No.” She shakes her head. “They won’t.”

I look over at the kids again, and then to the muted television. My feet move closer, because I have to be sure the words flashing across the screen say what I think they say. “Flight 1184 crashes off the coast of Hawaii. Three hundred missing and presumed dead.”

My sister was going to Hawaii.

My sister is gone.

I sink to my knees in front of the kids, unsure what to say. They just lost their parents, and my heart is breaking. My sister was my best friend. She was the one who pushed me to open Veil and do what I wanted. I’ve always had her support, and now she’s gone.

Christopher lifts his head, his brown eyes filled with unshed tears. “They’ll find them,” he says with conviction.

“Okay,” I reply. We both know it’s a lie, but it’s one he has to tell himself. I remember being fifteen; there was no telling me I was wrong.

“Dad wouldn’t . . .” he starts, and then stops as his lip quivers.

My own tears start to fall, as Morgan grabs my hand. “What do we do now?”

I have no fucking clue. How do I tell these kids how to survive? I’m the last person in the world equipped to give this advice. I look to London. Her hand touches my shoulder and she wipes the tears that fall silently down her cheeks.

“We hold each other close,” she says.

About the authors:

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Corinne Michaels is the author of nine romance novels. She’s an emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun loving mom of two beautiful children. Corinne is happily married to the man of her dreams and is a former Navy wife.

After spending months away from her husband while he was deployed, reading and writing was her escape from the loneliness. She enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak and finding a way to heal them through their struggles. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love.

Harlow Headshot Color
USA Today Bestselling Author Melanie Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty bits left in. When she’s not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.

Melanie is the author of the AFTER WE FALL series, the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.

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