BLOG TOUR ~ BENEATH THE SCARS by MELANIE MORELAND
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Synopsis
The sound of the ocean, the crash of the waves as they kick up against the sand and rocks—these are the only sounds Megan Greene wants to hear. She wants to leave the rest of the world behind, and find some peace. The offer of a private house on the beach, set in a small town in Maine, is perfect. Time to think—to be by herself. It’s all she wants. It’s the escape she needs. Until she stumbles across the painting that seems to echo her own chaotic mindset. Until she meets the unfriendly artist behind the stormy painting and discovers his secrets.
All Zachary Adams wants is to be left alone. His canvases, and the unending scope
of the ocean and sand, are his life. They direct him—fill his hours. Bring him focus. Until she enters his life. She dredges up memories of the past—the haunting images he has hidden for years; the fears he has never shared. A story he keeps buried below the surface.Can she make him see what he is missing? Can he trust her enough to believe?
Together they embark on a journey where their pasts collide and threaten to tear them apart. Will their fragile bond hold or wash away with the ebbing tide?
Genre Adult Contemporary Romance
Expected Publication Date October 14th 2014
Excerpt #1
As I descended the few stairs to the beach, I was surprised to see the large golden retriever as well as the mysterious Zachary. I stood for a minute, observing him in private. He was standing, barefoot in the surf, staring out over the water as his dog frolicked close by. Zachary was a tall, dark silhouette against the sand and stormy, strange-colored sky of the late afternoon. Wearing dark jeans and the same overcoat that showed off his broad shoulders, a beanie once again pulled low on his head, he stood with his hands in his pockets, motionless, as the water swept across his bare feet. The rolled-up edges of his pants were dark with the ocean spray clinging to the material. I shivered just watching him. The water had to be freezing.
Seeing her new friend, Dixie let out a happy, little yelp, which had the retriever bounding over to her, once again licking her head and huffing as he greeted her. The two of them took off, heading right toward Zachary. He leaned down, greeting Dixie, allowing her a sniff, then patted her head and straightened up. He didn’t turn around or acknowledge my presence. With a roll of my eyes, I walked forward, stopping when I was close enough to be heard, but not have my feet in the frigid water. I waited, but he said nothing, ignoring me completely.
Unfriendly indeed.
“That’s Dixie—my dog.”
His chin dipped with a brief nod. “Elliott.”
I couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of my voice. “You or the dog?”
His lips quirked at the edges. “My dog.”
“I’m staying at the Harpers’ house.”
He nodded.
“I’m not Karen—I’m a friend of hers.”
His sarcasm was thick. “I realize. I have met her—more than once. There is a slight resemblance, perhaps, but I can see you aren’t her. Your hair rather gives that away.”
“I’m sure it was a thrill for her,” I murmured, surprised to hear the trace of a British accent in his voice. I chose to ignore the remark about my hair.
Nothing.
“They’re letting me stay here for a while.”
“How kind.”
I shook my head. Was he for real?
“I’m Megan. Megan Greene.”
Silence.
I searched my brain for something to say. “Looks like a storm’s coming in.”
“Observant.”
I frowned at him—definitely rude. His voice, however, despite its unwelcoming tone, was low and rich sounding, his subtle accent curling around the words when he spoke. I wanted to hear more than a few monosyllables from him, and to hear him say my name.
“Aren’t your feet cold, Zachary?”
He glanced down and shrugged, still facing the water, not even acknowledging the fact I knew his name. “Not really. I’m used to the cold.”
I decided to try a different subject—maybe one that would open him up a little. “I saw your work at the gallery in town; you’re very gifted.”
Again, he nodded.
“Your Tempest painting is”—I searched for the right word—“exceptional.”
“It’s not for sale.”
Disappointed at his words, I studied his partially hidden profile. Again his jaw was covered in stubble, and all I could really see was his nose and the downturned set of his full mouth. Some wayward hair sticking out from his beanie was blowing in the wind; its color not easy to make out. I was sure it was dark, but I couldn’t see enough to determine if I was correct. I wanted to step forward, force him to look at me, but there was something about his tense stance that screamed “back off.” He was obviously uncomfortable with me being this close, so I remained where I was, even though I felt some bizarre sort of need to get closer. I had to struggle not to move beside him, slip my hand into his, and offer him some sort of comfort; to loosen the tense set of those broad shoulders. I shook my head at the strange urge.
“Would you perhaps reconsider?”
“No. Jonathon already inquired on your behalf. I have it on loan to the gallery as a personal favor. It’s not for sale—at any price.”
I smiled, attempting to tease him. “Everything has its price, Zachary.”
I wasn’t prepared for the venom in his voice when he spoke.
“I’m fucking aware that’s the way most of the world works. I don’t conduct my life that way.”
Then he turned and walked away, his long strides eating up the distance, his unbuttoned coat billowing out behind him. He whistled for Elliott, who dropped the stick from his mouth and chased after his master.
Both Dixie and I stood staring at the retreating figures. Not once did Zachary pause or look back, while Elliott raced ahead of him. I waited until he had climbed the stairs and disappeared from sight, never taking my eyes off him.
I blinked and looked over the water.
Now I could say I had met my neighbor.
That went well.
Excerpt #2
Megan stood gazing at me, her head shaking slowly back and forth, but she didn’t move. “You don’t mean that.”
Why wasn’t she listening to me? Why wasn’t she leaving?
“Get out of my house. Leave.” I pointed to the door, making sure she understood. “Now.”
“You wouldn’t send me out into a storm, Zachary. Your words are just empty threats to try and get me to hate you.” She came closer, her voice soothing and calm.
I barked out a harsh laugh as I stepped back. “You should hate me.”
“I don’t.” She edged forward again.
I frowned at her. Why was she coming closer? She should be backing away; even if she knew I wouldn’t throw her out of the house, she should want to move as far away from me—from my hideous face—as possible.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m not afraid of you.” She moved forward, closing any remaining distance between us to mere inches. I tried to step back, but I had nowhere to go, my back hitting the stone of the fireplace. I dragged in a shaking breath, only to have my already overloaded senses fill with her warm scent, shutting my eyes as it settled around me like a soothing blanket. When I opened them a moment later, it was to her wide, dark gaze. There was no revulsion or pity in their depths; only a simple calm, beseeching stare. She looked vulnerable as we gazed at each other, the room around us ceasing to exist.
Why was she looking at me like that? What did she want?
“Zachary,” she whispered.
It was too much. She was too close and too—
I lifted my hands to push her away, except when they wrapped around the top of her arms, it was as if they had a mind of their own. Time seemed to stop as my fingers caressed the smooth, silky skin not covered by her T-shirt; the warmth of her burning through my fingers to my very core. My arms flexed as they dragged her closer until our faces were almost touching. Her hands held tightly to my loose sweater, bunching the fabric in her small fists so hard, I knew the cuts on her palms would reopen. I knew her blood would seep into the material, forever staining it with her essence. It didn’t matter; I couldn’t let go of her. I held her so close it was as if I was trying to mold her into my skin and make her part of my body. Her hot breath washed over my face, and I could hear my own ragged, harsh breaths filling the room.
Still, neither of us said a word as we stared, clutching and holding each other, the heat between us burning brighter every second that passed. A small whimper escaped her lips, a pleading, needy sound and I was lost. My mouth covered hers roughly and I jerked her flush to me, not allowing a sliver of space between us. I groaned into her wet, warm mouth as I felt her hands slip into my hair, holding me close to her face. Her tongue was like silk on mine as we caressed and tasted, our tongues stroking and entwining. The taste of her was as sweet as I knew it would be, her lips as soft and her effect on me crippling. I plunged my hands into her hair, tilting her head to deepen the kiss, directing her where I needed her to go with my touch. Megan gripped me tighter as I claimed her; needing and wanting more. Her heart hammered powerfully in her chest, so I knew she could feel mine as well. Small sounds from deep in her throat filled my ears as I ravished her mouth, lost in the heat and wonder that was Megan.
Excerpt #3
“Don’t feel sorry for me,” I snapped. I hated pity.
“I’m not feeling sorry for you. I said I was sorry people chose to be unkind because of your scars. There’s a difference,” she snapped right back. A dull flush tinged her cheeks, her eyes glinting and fiery with annoyance as she frowned at me. Despite her anger, I found her incredibly attractive and my lips quirked.
“What?” she spat at me.
I shook my head as I chuckled and grabbed the bottle of wine to top up our glasses. I might be low on food, but I never ran out of wine. “I was thinking how I wanted to capture you on film again, looking exactly like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like a kitten trying to act like a tiger. All growls and swipes of your little paws as you hiss at me, putting me in my place.” I reclined back, taking a deep swallow of my wine as I gazed at her over the rim of the glass. “You’re very sexy when you’re angry. Did you know that?”
“Stop it.”
“It’s true. Your eyes flash, and the color on your cheeks is sublime. Your glare, which I’m certain you mean to be angry, is more of a turn on than anything.”
“I am angry at you. You twist everything I say.”
I tilted my head in acknowledgment. “I know. It’s a bad habit I picked up after years of being lied to.” Lifting her hand, I kissed the knuckles. “I apologize. I’ll try harder.” I placed another kiss on her skin. “But I still want to capture you when you’re angry.”
Rolling her eyes, she stood up, taking our empty plates. “Somehow, Zachary, I have a feeling you’ll get what you wish for without much effort.” She sighed as she walked to the sink. “You seem to be able to make me angry faster than anyone I’ve ever met.”
I closed the distance between us in two large steps. Cupping the back of her neck, I brought her mouth to mine. “Anger is simply another form of passion,” I murmured against her lips.
“A tiring one,” she returned in a whisper. “And I won’t ever lie to you.”
“Everyone lies.”
“No, they don’t. Whatever world you were in where they did, I’m glad you’re out of it.” She paused, frowning. “I’m glad you’re here—with me.”
I didn’t want to talk anymore. I didn’t want to think about the past, or groceries, or even what was going to happen tomorrow. All I wanted was to lose myself with her again. To block out everything else.
I picked her up, striding down the hall with her cradled in my arms, my mouth covering hers.
She wanted me to be happy. Having her wrapped around me, buried inside her, made me happy.
Dreamcast
My Cast of Characters for Beneath the Scars…
Zachary Adams ~ Henry Cavill
His eyes are so expressive and he has that sense of ruggedness about him that reminds me of Zachary. There is something strong about his demeanor and when he smiles it is like the sun coming out. He was the perfect choice.
Megan Greene ~ Alexis Bledel
That pretty next door look, with a beautiful smile. Add a few freckles and brown contacts, she is exactly as I pictured Megan.
Jared Cameron ~ Ryan Gosling
Good looking and he knows it. He knows how to use it. I think he’d portray a great Jared with enough smarminess to give you the shivers.
Karen Harper ~ Anne Hathaway
Anne portrays that confident beauty Zach described. Sure of herself, outspoken and loyal. All traits I think she possesses.
Playlist
About the Author
Melanie Moreland lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her husband and four children. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
Known as the quiet one with the big laugh, Melanie works for the sporting teams of a local university. Her (box) office job, while demanding, is rewarding as she cheers on her team to victory.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and somewhat challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties and socialize, and also enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie delights in writing a good romance story with some bumps along the way, but is a true believer in happily ever after. When her head isn’t buried in a book, it is bent over a keyboard, furiously typing away as her characters dictate their creative story lines to her even more inspired tales, for all to enjoy.
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BLOG TOUR – LONG ODDS (A SHOWING HEARTS NOVEL) BY MELISSA ASLESON
This is a story of deception, lust, fear, loss, rebuilding and healing. Only being in her early twenties, Averyana Chambers has a very deluded view of the world. After four years away at college, it is time to return and face the dark secrets that lie within the walls of her childhood home. Her brain and heart are constantly at war, and Avery just wants to find a balance. Avery has never gambled, especially not with her heart. Things are never what they seem and uncovering the truth is always a little to late in Avery’s world. How much tragedy can she stand before she gets completely lost in despair?
White roses. I both hate and find them intriguing at the same time. The first white rose I ever received was when my grandfather died. I was seven years old playing with my dolls under a giant oak tree at the cemetery while the grave-side service commenced. A man with a large rough hand gives me a long-stemmed white rose. His deep voice instructed me to give it to my mother for him. I looked up only to see the outline of a large dark-haired man, his back to the sun. I stood up to question him, curious why he didn’t do it himself when he quickly backed away. I stood there watching him disappear into the packed parking lot. After the service, my mother found me. I had resumed playing with my dolls. When I handed her the rose and told her about the man, she quickly ran to the parking lot. She was frantically looking for the man that I could only describe to her as a big with scarred hands and black hair. When she returned she was shaking me, demanding answers of whom and where the man went. My distressed father stepped in when I had no more information to offer and relieved me of my mom’s irrational behavior. After my grandfather had died, she was never quite the same.
The second time I received a single white rose was a similar experience, but this time the man didn’t speak. I was an eighteen year old saying my last respects to my parents at the same cemetery. The man was standing back watching me with a single long-stemmed white rose. I could feel his eyes on me the whole service. He was in a dark suit and sunglasses. I remember that he had a very distinct nose. It had been broken several times, and he had a raised scar that was above his right eye. He had handed the rose to me with a sad smirk before my aunt ushered me towards the limo. I have often wondered over the years if it was the same man. They didn’t seem to have anything in common in my memory of when I was seven, except for a single white rose. Since then, I’ve received white roses on my birthday every year for the last four years.
Today, however, is not my birthday. I look at the arrangement of two dozen long stem roses in a heavy crystal vase. The smell alone evokes so many emotions. The distinct, sweet smell reminds me of very happy memories of my grandparents’ home. They had a vast variety of roses. My grandmother loved them. On the other hand, it reminds me of death, sorrow and the people I miss desperately, especially right now. I just stare at the tiny white envelope with my name inscribed in the middle. This is the first time I have gotten an envelope of any kind. I am almost afraid to see what may lie inside.
Hello, I’m Melissa I love books and I am a very amateur writer. I started writing because both my parents were diagnosed with cancer within months of each other. I had moved back home to take care of my mother the sicker of the two and I found it hard to read, the emotions were deeper than I want to go at the time. So I stopped reading for a while. My cousin suggested that I write a letter to cancer to let out my frustrations, it turned into something else completely, I was able to escape and write my own story. Thus far I have a two part series published. My first two books are funny and light-hearted. The current work in progress is darker and deeper than I have gone.
Interesting facts about me; I am fluent in profanity and proud of it. I drink way too much wine. I have more shoes than storage room for them. More makeup and crazy jewelry than I should have, but I love it all. I will never turn down a shopping trip of any kind. My family and friends are the most important people in my life. I love horses and just about anything purple. I have a usual fondness for the smell of Pine-Sol. I believe music heals. I shamelessly love to dance and sing along wherever or whenever the music provokes me to do so. The next aspiration for me is to be featured in Inked magazine (I have a tattoo addiction as well).
I love to engage people and I will talk to anyone, anytime. I pride myself being open-minded, I occasionally ask blunt and inappropriate questions because I am so eager to learn about things I am not familiar with. I am fascinated by the human condition. All of my inspirations come from my real life experiences, people I have met, and music. I often wonder what kind of grief caused a sad song to be written, what events caused an angry song to be written and the circumstances of a love song.
I grew up in an extremely small and judgmental town. Everybody knew your business, sometimes before you even did. From a young age my parents instilled in me that it was better to be disliked for who you really are, than admired for who you are not. That is a virtue I live by today, I don’t pretend to be something or someone I am not for anyone-anytime. The people I surround myself with are the people who really understand me, they walk in with me, when everyone else walks out. They may be a group of few, but less is definitely more in this case. They are all precious to me.
Lastly, but no less important, I hope to engage my readers to laugh, possibly cry and become a little aroused. I know that I was lead down this path for a reason, so I will graciously follow it to wherever it leads me. I plan on letting me fingers fly across the keys as long as the opportunity allows. I hope you enjoy my stories as much as I enjoyed writing and sharing them. Thank you to every reader that has or will ever take a chance on me.
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NEW RELEASE – DOM, A MAN APART BY ETHAN RADCLIFF
Title: DOM, a man apart
Author: Ethan Radcliff
Release Date: Oct 15, 2014
Published by: Bitten Press, LLC
Genre: BDSM Erotica
✦✦Synopsis✦✦
In the world of pain and pleasure, Charles Damien Macavoy reigned. He was a man apart, one who require more than most. He was a Master of BDSM. He’d been asked by another Dom and good friend to train the Dom’s current sub and love interest. Charles had trained many, but found himself attracted to his new trainee.
He was aware the fascination would wear off, it always did, and he’d returned the trainee to her Master willing and ready to submit. Lurking in the shadows of a world few are accustomed to is evil. Sometimes a thing of beauty has hidden thorns. Sometimes the hunter becomes the hunted.
✦Excerpt✦
“Oh fuck,” she whispered. “Oh fuck,” she continued. She was on all fours, her head hung down just above the hot sensuous streams of water from the jets in the tub. The sight before him, his cock sliding in and out of her, the cheeks of her perfect ass shook with each hard arousing thrust hardening his balls. His abdomen was so fucking tight he was unsure if he was going to be able to hold back much longer. Then she began to tremble. “Charles, oh fuck!” she yelled at him. “I’m coming!”
Amazon US…http://www.amazon.com/D-O-M-Ethan-Radcliff-ebook/dp/B00OID46TQ/
✦✦About Ethan Radcliff✦✦
I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I love creating and tried my hand at art, not bad but not good enough. A guy’s gotta eat. Through high school I wrote erotic stories, kept them in a notebook, let a few of my girlfriends read them. Yeah, played football, baseball, but my brain never stopped thinking of sex. I guess we think about it all the time. Been on face book for a while never did anything interesting when I was on until I started to see all the writers and then some poets posting their erotic prose. Men who were writing erotic romance and stories, I knew it was my time to get out the old note book and throw on some poems. Some are old and some are new, the ones about BDSM are newer. In high school or college I wasn’t on that train of thought. I see a picture it sets me off. A see an attractive women it sets me off. The jiggle of a full ass or heavy breasts, gets me going. Yeah, my mind always is on a beautiful face or body.
✦✦Social Media Links✦✦
FaceBook ♦ Blog ♦ Twitter ♦ Tumblr ♦ Amazon Author Page ♦ Goodreads
✦✦Purchase Ethan’s other books✦✦
The Taming of Molly Jenkings
Amazon US ♦ Amazon UK ♦ Kobo ♦ B&N ♦ ITunes
The Wait, Britt’s Undoing
Amazon US ♦ Amazon UK ♦ Kobo ♦ B&N ♦ ITunes
The Magician, Male Escort
Amazon US ♦ Amazon Uk ♦ Kobo ♦ B&N ♦ ITunes
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RELEASE DAY BLITZ – LEFT BEHIND BY VI KEELAND AND DYLAN SCOTT
Left Behind by Vi Keeland & Dylan Scott is LIVE!
Now is your chance to meet Zack & Nikki!
Available at:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1w9RZsI
Barnes & Noble: TBD
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Want to read the first few chapters? Sign up for Vi’s mailing list now and get a sneak peek! http://eepurl.com/0ABfr
Blurb
Two stories so deeply intertwined, you’ll think you know how they intersect…but you’ll be wrong….
Zack Martin
The day I met Emily Bennett my whole world changed. Sure, we were just kids, but I was old enough to know my life would never be the same. She was my best friend. My destiny. My fate. I wasn’t wrong…I just didn’t know how twisted fate could be.
Nikki Fallon
After the death of my mother, moving from my dark and dreary trailer park to sunny California, I was focused on one thing – finding a sister I’d only just learned existed. Falling in love with him wasn’t part of the plan. But he filled a void I never knew was possible to fill. He had to be my fate. My destiny. Until the day I finally found out who my sister was…and how twisted fate could be.
Giveaway
$25 Gift Card
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SPOTLIGHT TOUR – THAT`S A PROMISE BY VICTORIA KLAHR
Pain isn’t new to me.I’ve been to hell only to find it never really leaves when you get back. It haunts me through nightmares, unrequited love, lies, broken hearts, and now death.
A monster almost took my life.
My best friend carries half my soul a world away.
My boyfriend broke my heart but refuses to let me go.
And my father is dead.
I don’t believe in fate and I don’t believe in happily-ever-afters, but for some reason, I still hope.
Live, even with a tainted spirit.
Long for my other half to come back to me.
Risk another broken heart, just to feel loved again.
And refuse to let another horror break me.
In the face of my most recent tragedy, I have to decide whether forgiveness is something I can give. But even if that’s an option, can I be forgiven?
I’m in a sea of black. The beautiful May day gives no impression that there is any sadness or grief in the air. It’s one of those days that you want to spend outside, smelling the new blooming flowers, getting some sun, and walking in the grass barefoot, but none of those things hold any interest for me.
Everything is a blur around me, a haze that mirrors my own depression. I know people are talking to me, but I don’t hear them. They express sadness in their words, but most of them never sympathized with us before today. They talk as if they know us, but where were they before? They live their lives talking shit behind people’s backs, but don’t see the hypocrisy in their fake condolences.
I’ve learned to ignore the whispers and stares, a lesson received repeatedly as I grew up in what some would call an “unconventional” household. Apparently punching everyone who bullies you isn’t the socially acceptable way to handle things, so I try to just ignore them. I don’t want or need to let any of their negativity in, so I remain quiet. There’s been enough sadness in our lives, and there’s no need for nasty words from nosey neighbors to pile onto that pain.
A person in a black suit finishes shoveling dirt into the cold, deep grave. I focus on the earth closing around the person I loved so immensely and to whom I felt so close. The ground consumes the casket and takes my loved one away into a lonely pit; permanently putting an end to the best person I will ever know.
I look at my dad sitting next to me. He is distraught, but well medicated for the occasion, only showing emotion when he remembers he just lost the love of his life. He seems to have aged ten years in the past week. He was once the strongest and most commanding person I knew, but today, he looks like a child. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t do anything except for the essentials. He exists, but he’s not living. He looks up at me and I feel like maybe he wants to reach out and say something to comfort me, but I know his internal pain limits him from showing affection. I put my hand on his shoulder to show I’m here, hoping he understands what I mean.
People are finally leaving. Leaving us behind to grieve together in peace. That’s a lie. There is no peace for us, and there won’t be for a long time. With the preparations for the funeral complete, I have all the time in the world to sit and think about the gravity of what I just lost. That’s not peace. That’s torture.
“Dad,” I say, “I think that maybe we should head back to the house.” He sits there, giving no indication that he heard me suggest our departure.
“Dad,” I try again, after a minute. “Let’s say goodbye, and go home.” I can’t stand to be here any longer.
He stands slowly and walks over to the heap of dirt covering a life that was once vibrant and lively. He collapses onto the mound, and at first I’m startled by the sudden fall. Once I hear the heart wrenching sobs that escape his mouth, I understand he is saying his goodbye. I hear him murmuring about his undying love, and decide to give him some privacy.
I look toward the entrance of the cemetery, shaking myself out of the haze that I was in. I don’t even recall walking this far to get to the grave site, but I don’t want to remember, so I don’t try to conjure up the memory.
A figure leans against one of the nearby trees and I start to sweep my eyes past until recognition hits me in the chest heavily. I don’t think he wanted to be seen, but he was caught and he knows it. My throat starts to constrict and pain obstructs my chest.
He hasn’t changed much since the last time I saw him, except that he has no smile on his face today. He’s still breathtakingly handsome… but he’s also still the asshole I left behind at the café a year ago.
Why is he here? How dare he show his face here on a day like today?
I’m in such a state of shock that I lose concept of space and time. I stare at him for a good two minutes before I jerk back to reality.
He gives me a small wave and a slight lift of his beautiful lips. It is a sad and withdrawn smile, enough for me to know he understands exactly what happened.
I glare back at him, not in any mood to be civil, and start stomping my way toward him, intent on giving him a piece of my mind. He has no right to be here.
As I draw closer to him, he pulls himself from the tree and approaches. We meet up and stand so close I almost forget the reason why I came up to him. In my mind’s stuttering state, he speaks first.
“Hi Josie.” His deep, dominant voice washes over me, and I’m angry that it thrills me to hear his voice again. I swallow down the warmth, and try to keep my guard intact.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss. “I’m pretty sure I made it clear I never wanted to see you again. How dare you show your face here?”
“Jo… I just wanted to come and say how sorry I am about your loss. I heard about Will, and I needed to come see how you were doing,” he responds, sadness clear from the roughness of his voice.
Hearing him use my nickname with his gentle tone makes me weak. I wrap my arms around my body to try and keep my anger from being impacted by his kindness.
“I don’t want you here,” I whisper, looking anywhere but at him. I don’t want him to see me break down ever again, but between my loss and seeing him, I don’t know if I will be able to hold back. In that one sentence, filled with the longing and sadness that I didn’t want to show, I made it clear to him that I’m still hurting over what happened.
“I understand. I needed to make sure you’re okay. I know how hard this is for you.” He slowly starts to reach out his hand, and while my cheek tingles at the thought of him touching even an inch of my skin, I think he knows that it’s unwelcome. As I turn the slightest fraction away, he lets his hand fall back to his side, a look of regret crossing his face.
“I can’t do this. Dad needs me right now. I have to take him back to the house,” I say, wanting to get rid of him and the memories he is bringing back.
“Let me stay with you for the day. We can catch up and I can help you with things. Today is tough as it is, let me help,” he says, confidence and determination starting to come back into his personality. This is the man I knew.
I hear footsteps behind me as my dad walks up to us. He stands there, lost in a world I don’t want to enter. He said his goodbye and now he’s retreated back into his shell. I look up at my unexpected visitor and get ready to tell him goodbye for the last time.
“Mr. Sommers, I am so sorry for your loss,” he says softly to my dad. “Josie and I were talking about heading back to the house to catch up and throw away some of the food your neighbors sent over.” He gives me a sly smile and then returns his attention to my dad. “Would one extra person be okay?”
My dad grunts and gives a barely noticeable nod, and we both know him well enough to know that he has accepted the offer. I shake my head at his response.
“Dad, go ahead to the car. I’ll be there in a couple minutes,” I say, hoping to convince Blake Porter to leave. When Dad is almost at the car, I whip myself around to scowl at the same stubborn Blake I used to know. He has a small cocky smirk playing on his lips, and I don’t like how distractingly handsome he still is.
“You need to leave and never come back around here or me again. I can barely even look at you without wanting to punch you in your stupid face!”
The last part is only partially true; a part of me wants to hit him again, and the other part wants to kiss him. His smile grows a little after he hears me say that, because he knows me well enough to figure out that I really do want to hit him.
“I get that you never wanted to see me again after the last time, Josie. Just let me be here for you today. Let me be your friend this one time. I can help. You know I can help,” he says sincerely. I know he can help, but that scares me.
I take a deep breath and try to sort out my thoughts. He is the last person I need to be talking to, and the second person I’ve wanted to talk to since this happened. I know exactly who is standing before me, and I know without a doubt that if I let him back in, I will be hurt and betrayed all over again.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1qteiTC
Social Media Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7304003.Victoria_Klahrhttp://victoriaklahrwrites.blogspot.com/
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NEW RELEASE – FOSTERING LOVE (THE SOUL SISTERS SERIES) BY VICTORIA JONES
Fostering Love
The Soul Sisters Series
By
Victoria Johns
* * * *
A few review snippets I’ve received so far…..
Read it in a day and loved it! Can’t wait for Book 2!
Mrs A Grinnell, UK Independent Reviewer and lover of chick lit fiction.
*****
First time I’ve read a book in just over a day in a looooong time
Mrs A Thomas, UK Independent Reviewer and follower of contemporary romance fiction
*****
Finished it and couldn’t put it down. WOW, it should be a huge success!
Mrs J Elkington, UK independent Reviewer and fan of romance fiction
*****
From the very start you’ll fall in love with our dear Dolly and find yourself begging for more from the Soul Sisters. This new author will not fail to deliver.
Miss J Moss, UK Independent Reviewer and local blogger.
*****
Gotta say I absolutely loved it. Just what I wanted from a romance novel. A great story with hot sex!
Miss S Jones, Reader and Supporter of Indie Authors, Kentucky USA
*****
I loved their story, freaking amazing.
Hopeluvsbooks Blog, Tennessee USA
*****
More about the Soul Sisters Series…
The Soul Sisters of Hawkstown grew up together and have formed a bond so strong that they’ve become like family…
Dalton Frobisher is a local photographer and came to live in Hawkstown under tough circumstances, she needed the love and support of a good family and really hit gold when she teamed up with her other sisters from an early age. She’s tall, curvy and full of sass and attitude.
Aneelia Prince is an educated local girl with city girl brains, she wants nothing more than to grow up and be happy in the community she’s come to love. She’s feisty and has a personality large enough to keep Dalton and the others in check.
Charlotte Groves is the sister’s resident privileged princess and comes from one of the exclusive Hawkstown family’s. The girls have become her ‘normal’ family and help her escape from the confines of a country club lifestyle she’s forced to endure.
Florence Smith works at the local high school teaching English, she’s the groups resident dreamer and lives her life according to romance poems and sonnets. Flo is a firm believer in fairy tales and waiting for your Prince Charming.
Together, they’ve been inseparable since the start of high school and have fought battles like true friends would. To each other they have become as dependable as true family and need each other more than ever as their lives take on new twists and turns.
Fostering Love Book Synopsis
Fostering Love is the first book in the Soul Sisters Series, which tells the story of four girls, friendship and their path to finding ‘the one’.
Being “soul sisters” is a way of life for Dalton, Aneelia, Charlotte and Florence.
Growing up together means they’ve shared all of life’s major highs and lows and managed to survive with a friendship so strong that real blood sisters would be jealous of it.
Dalton Frobisher has loved the same guy since she was a teenager.
It’s just unfortunate that he doesn’t love her back, or rather, can’t.
Growing up around the person you believe should be yours is hard, seeing him with other girls is harder but watching him leave is torture. It’s a constant state of grief because he’s still in your life and you can’t have him.
Life is full of regrets and not telling him how she felt was the biggest regret she had… so far. Dalton wasn’t going to miss that opportunity the next time it came around.
She just didn’t expect the fallout to be so… life changing.
LINKS
Amazon UK/Europe link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fostering-Love-Soul-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B00O1H3WQW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1412060578&sr=1-1&keywords=fostering+love
Amazon US link: http://www.amazon.com/Fostering-Love-Soul-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B00O1H3WQW/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1412063797&sr=8-8&keywords=fostering+love
About the Author
Victoria Johns is a writer who enjoys sharing a happily ever after and believes that it’s every good girl’s dream to experience a steamy one. Growing up in North West England in a large family surrounded by love and support she found her Prince Charming many years ago and enjoys living the life they’ve made with their son.
She’s always had a creative imagination and decided that some of the stories bubbling in her head needed to be shared, so she’s created this pen name to give them their freedom to be loved by others.
When she’s not writing she’s overdosing on crisps, Rosé wine, trashy TV and raunchy reads.
Links:
Website: www.victoriajohnsbooks.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Victoria-Johns/864940723534646
Twitter: @victoriajohns75
Email: Victoriajohns75@gmail.com
Hashtags for trending: #fosteringlove #victoriajohns #soulsisters #badassfairystories
Please note, I will be available on facebook and twitter all day on release day, should you or your followers have any questions, I will do my very best to try and answer every question
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COVER REVEAL – VENICE INK BY LILI ST. GERMAIN (NOVELLA IS PART OF OWNED: AN ALPHA ANTHOLOGY)
Title: Venice Ink
Author: Lili St. Germain
Release Date: November 10, 2014 as part of Owned: An Alpha Anthology
Blurb
Six years ago… Elliot’s world changed forever.
He couldn’t walk away from the girl who was at death’s door, the girl who was being pursued mercilessly by the men who’d failed to finish the job they started when they attacked her and left her for dead. The Gypsy Brothers.
He stole away with her, into the night, throwing away a promising career in the LAPD in the process. He never once regretted the things he did to protect her, to give her a second chance at life. He loved her even as she consumed his universe.
But in the end, she became his poison, his darkness, and so he left…
He drove away, and went back to where it all started. Venice Beach. The place where dreams are broken, the place where power is measured in drops of blood.
He swore he’d avenge her past, but life had other plans.
Because nothing lasts forever … not even ink.
OWNED: An Alpha Anthology
Prepare to be Owned…
Lose yourself in this collection of never before seen novellas from eleven best selling authors from around the globe.
And the best part – they contain controlling alphas, feisty females and story lines that will have you holding your breath.
Pre-Order OWNED today!
Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | B&N | KOBO
Catch up with the The Gypsy Brothers series
About the Author
Lili writes dark erotica and NA. Her debut serial novel, Seven Sons, is was released in early 2014, with the following books in the series to released in quick succession. Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband, good coffee, hanging at the beach and running. She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.
Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Website | Join the mailing List!
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BLOG TOUR ~ HER DOM’S LESSON by A.D. JUSTICE
Title: Her Dom’s Lesson
Author: A.D. Justice
Release Date: October 6, 2014
Genre: Erotic Thriller
Synopsis
Sophia Vasco
Will he ever forgive me? This question haunts me every day and night. He branded me with his touch to the point that no other man will ever compare.
Dominic consumed my life. Until the day he learned the truth about me and everything changed. Nothing is as it seems and it has all spiraled out of control. The weight of the world now rests on my shoulders.
I have to fix this.
Dominic Powers
Some say that Karma is a bitch. I can say from experience that a betrayed Dom is much worse than a bastard ever thought about being.
They think they played me. I denied the man inside me his rightful place and was mistaken for a fool. When I’m done with them, they will feel the lash of her Dom’s lesson.
This isn’t over.
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK
Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU
B&N ~ Smashwords
About the Author
A.D. Justice has been married for 25 years and has two wonderful sons in college. She is also an avid reader of romance novels and, to her amazement, a self-published author. A.D. enjoys reading many different types of romance books – including drama and suspense, crime and mystery, NA and YA, and contemporary and erotica.
20 Fun Facts about A.D.
1. I haven’t met some of the best friends I have in person yet – but I plan on remedying that soon!
2. I love animals – we have two spoiled dogs, a cat, and two horses.
3. I’ve been married 25 years this year.
4. I have two sons – 21 and 19 – both in college.
5. I am a certified open water scuba diver.
6. I think I have an addiction to swag – I keep looking at and buying more of it!
7. I eat the chocolate off of Reese’s before I eat the peanut butter.
8. If I developed an allergy to peanuts, I would have to live on epi pens because I can’t give up peanut butter.
9. I don’t like having a schedule. Deadlines and scheduled meetings are my arch nemesis.
10. I am a huge Star Wars, Star Trek and superheroes movies fan.
11. I don’t care much about what others think….except when it comes to my work.
12. I haven’t developed thick enough skin yet.
13. Writing isn’t my full time job, even though I would love for it to be one day.
14. I don’t want to be put in a genre box. I want to write in several different categories.
15. I’m pretty out spoken. Unfairness or bullying really pisses me off. Picking on my friends will evoke my wrath upon your head. It’s not pretty.
16. Most of the people who know me in real life don’t know I’m writing books.
17. I will be at several book signings this year and I love to talk to people – so stop by my table even if it’s only for the freebies!
18. I have an MBA in Health Care Administration and a BS in Organizational Development.
19. I am 4 classes shy of having a second Master’s of Science degree but I can’t bring myself to go back to school.
20. I took my horse, Rio, away from my husband because he’s dead broke and the mare he bought me is green broke. I’m not riding a green broke mare. Sorry.
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Goodreads
Purchase Book One Today
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU ~ B&N ~ Smashwords
Giveaway
Signed Paperback of Her Dom’s Lesson (US ONLY) or $10 Amazon Gift Card if located internationally,
Swag Pack (US ONLY), Ebook of Choice from AD Justice
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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BLOG TOUR ~ DELICATE INK (Montgomery Ink #1) by CARRIE ANN RYAN
CARRIE ANN RYAN BLOG TOUR FOR:
Delicate Ink
A Montgomery Ink Novel, Book 1
BLURB:
On the wrong side of thirty, Austin Montgomery is ready to settle down. Unfortunately, his inked sleeves and scruffy beard isn’t the suave business appearance some women crave. Only finding a woman who can deal with his job, as a tattoo artist and owner of Montgomery Ink, his seven meddling siblings, and his own gruff attitude won’t be easy.
Finding a man is the last thing on Sierra Elder’s mind. A recent transplant to Denver, her focus is on opening her own boutique. Wanting to cover up scars that run deeper than her flesh, she finds in Austin a man that truly gets to her—in more ways than one.
Although wary, they embark on a slow, tempestuous burn of a relationship. When blasts from both their pasts intrude on their present, however, it will take more than a promise of what could be to keep them together.
CARRIE ANN WEBSITE – Delicate Ink
Delicate Ink on GOODREADS
EXCERPT:
That first person had wanted a dragon on his back. Sure, Austin could have done it, but the kid had wanted to start right then. A full dragon piece would take at least three or four sessions of three hours each. Probably more considering the kid kept shifting from foot to foot as if he couldn’t sit still. Moving during a tattoo meant Austin had to stop and start numerous times or bash the kid’s head in.
Not that he’d ever do that, but he’d thought about it.
So the kid had yelled and bitched about time and demanding it right then for a hundred bucks. Yeah, totally not happening. The next one that came in was some really skinny chick who wanted the undersides of her obviously man-made breasts inked up with Playboy bunnies.
Austin wasn’t even going to touch that one.
Well, to be sure he wouldn’t have to deal with her, he showed her what he’d be working with. The woman freaked out when she saw the needles and left. Considering all the needles that must have touched her skin when she’d had the surgeries to make her body the way it was, her phobia made no sense.
Besides, what did she think they used, Paint By Numbers?
It had continued on like that with idiot after idiot until Austin said enough and locked himself in the back. He would just sketch until lunch and then deal with his scheduled clients.
BUY LINKS:
AUTHOR BIO:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.
Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.
Get in touch with Carrie Ann Ryan!
Website:
Blog:
Facebook, Author Page:
Facebook, Friend:
Twitter:
Goodreads:
Pinterest:
Newsletter:
Email:
BLP REVIEW ~ TRACY
TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY:
This giveaway will be a Carrie Ann Ryan signed paperback and a $15 Amazon gift card
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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ALL MESSED UP (WINDY CITY KINK#2) BY KELLY JAMIESON
If he’s a mistake, she’s ready to make him her favorite mistake.
Windy City Kink, Book 2
Mallory Hurst has tried to live a life that makes up for past mistakes. But now she faces a huge ethical dilemma. Her pharmaceutical company’s unapproved, off-label use of a medication puts lives at risk, and her protests have fallen on deaf ears.
Hoping a trip home will clear her head, she boards a plane for California. And strikes up a conversation with a handsome stranger.
Joe Mason recently learned that the man he’s called father all his life…isn’t. At least that explains why he never measured up to his older brothers. Flying to meet his biological father for the first time, he meets a sleek, sexy woman who makes him want to mess up her perfect hair.
Shared conversation leads to a shared drink between flights, then when their flight is canceled, a shared bed overnight—where their rush of attraction explodes into a night of much-needed kinky fun.
Yet a night of hot, messy sex won’t fix anything—in fact, blowing off steam could have blown their lives all to hell…
Warning: Contains a hot cop, a neat and tidy executive, dirty talk, kink in an airport, mile-high shenanigans, a little foot fetish fun. And love, of course.
AUTHOR BIO
Kelly Jamieson writes romances with heat that’s sweet. Her writing has been described as “emotionally complex”, “sweet and satisfying” and “blisteringly sexy”. If she can stop herself from reading or writing, she loves to cook. She has shelves of cookbooks that she reads at length. She also enjoys gardening in the summer, and in the winter she likes to read gardening magazines and seed catalogues (there might be a theme here…)
She also loves shopping, especially for clothes and shoes. But her family takes precedence over everything else (yes, even writing). She has two teenage children who are the best kids in the world, not that she’s biased, and a wonderful husband who does loads of laundry while she plays on the computer writing stories.
She loves hearing from readers, so please visit her website at www.kellyjamieson.com.
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
BUY LINKS
Samhain Publishing
Amazon.com
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Google Play
iBooks
Kobo
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦
BLP REVIEW ~ REBECCA
KINKY FUCKERY
That’s a favourite phrase of my partner in crime on this blog and couldn’t be more appropriate than with this book! I have not read any Kelly Jamieson before but, as an opportunity came up for an arc, I thought why not? And oh lordy, kinky fuckery indeed!!
Mallory Hurst has tried to live a life that makes up for past mistakes. But now she faces a huge ethical dilemma. Her pharmaceutical company’s unapproved, off-label use of a medication puts lives at risk, and her protests have fallen on deaf ears.
Hoping a trip home will clear her head, she boards a plane for California. And strikes up a conversation with a handsome stranger.
Joe Mason recently learned that the man he’s called father all his life…isn’t. At least that explains why he never measured up to his older brothers. Flying to meet his biological father for the first time, he meets a sleek, sexy woman who makes him want to mess up her perfect hair.
Shared conversation leads to a shared drink between flights, then when their flight is cancelled, a shared bed overnight — where their rush of attraction explodes into a night of much-needed kinky fun.
Yet a night of hot, messy sex won’t fix anything — in fact, blowing off steam could have blown their lives all to hell…
Warning: Contains a hot cop, a neat and tidy executive, dirty talk, kink in an airport, mile-high shenanigans, a little foot fetish fun. And love, of course.
This was a quickie read for me, a fast fun fuck of a book! The story was just a little predictable but nicely written. Joe is gorgeous and hell yes, I’d join the mile high club with him. Mallory frustrated me at times because while some of her behaviour was understandable I suppose, I kept thinking “grow the fuck up woman” – but it’s a page turner and at no point did I skip or get bored even when I wanted to slap her…..
And so…………….. to the kinky fuckery. From the first scenes of intimacy and sex in the airport their chemistry is an amazing, combustible heat. The dirty talk will without doubt get you hot and bothered and I raised an eyebrow or two through this one at some shenanigans! Still not sure about the foot fetish but on the other hand (or foot!) for Joe, I might be persuaded!
I actually think this one will appeal to those who love contemporary romance and also those liking erotica romance that’s not on the dark heavy side. An enjoyable quickie!
